A Colorado judge rejected a move by former President Donald Trump to throw out a challenge to remove him from future ballots in the state over the 14th Amendment.
Colorado District Judge Sarah Wallace ruled this week that the objects from Trump's legal team were insufficient.
A Colorado judge rejected an attempt by Trump to throw out a challenge to his candidacy under the 14th Amendment. https://t.co/sQG9Ez5qCl
— Axios (@axios) October 13, 2023
Smith wrote that it "is to the benefit of the general public that, regardless of political affiliation, only constitutionally qualified candidates are placed on the ballot."
"Trump's attorneys argued last month that the First Amendment protects him from being sued under Colorado law," it added.
Judge rejects Trump attempt to toss Colorado lawsuit seeking to bar him from the ballot https://t.co/lX3YXjGpsi
— moonbreeze (@moonbreeze2) October 14, 2023
"Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington claims in its lawsuit that putting Trump on the ballot in Colorado would violate a provision of the 14th Amendment that bars people who have 'engaged in insurrection' against the Constitution from holding office," Colorado Public Radio reported.
"The group’s chief counsel, Donald K. Sherman, welcomed Wallace’s decision, which was made late Wednesday," it continued.
A Colorado judge has rejected an attempt by former President Donald Trump to dismiss a lawsuit that seeks to keep him off the state ballot. The lawsuit claims the U.S. Constitution's ban on those who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding office ap... https://t.co/MdL3SpgCey
— KSTP (@KSTP) October 13, 2023
"The Colorado case is one of several involving Trump that stand to test the Civil War-era constitutional amendment, which has never been ruled on by the U.S. Supreme Court. Along with lawsuits filed in Minnesota and Michigan, it has a good chance of reaching the nation’s high court," KSTP-TV reported.
"The lawsuits also involve one of Trump’s arguments in criminal cases filed against him in Washington, D.C., and Georgia for his attempt to overturn his 2020 loss — that he is being penalized for engaging in free speech to disagree with the validity of the vote tally," it noted.
The case comes after a similar legal move against Trump in New Hampshire was turned down, but Colorado and other states may take a different approach.
Any state removing Trump from the ballot could lead to major controversy during either the primary vote or the general election battle if he faces President Joe Biden.
The fight is expected to continue in the days ahead as Trump's opponents seek to block his return to the White House in 2024.
