(BrightPress.org) – On Wednesday, February 28th, Cook County, Illinois Circuit Judge Tracie Porter agreed with voters that Donald Trump should be barred from appearing on the state’s primary ballot. Porter based her decision on the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, claiming Trump violated the anti-insurrection clause by urging his supporters to “fight like hell” at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6th, 2021, in response to the 2020 election results. According to Porter, Trump’s actions prohibit him from taking public office by violating Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which states anyone who “engaged in insurrection” after taking an oath to support the U.S. The Constitution will be barred from holding public office.
On Thursday, Trump appealed Judge Porter’s decision. Trump’s attorneys requested the ruling be overturned. Porter, expecting the appeal, had already placed the ruling on hold until Friday. Following the actions of Trump’s attorneys, Porter granted a motion that her order be placed on hold until a higher court makes a final ruling in the matter. Trump will remain on the ballot while his attorneys pursue their appeal.
Colorado also barred Trump from appearing on state ballots citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The Colorado Supreme Court ruled that Trump is disqualified from holding public office. The U.S. Supreme Court is weighing this decision. Arguments were heard in early February and many justices appeared “skeptical” that Trump could be banned from the state ballots. During the arguments, Justices expressed concern about “sweeping actions” taken by individual states that could affect the national Presidential election.
A decision from the U.S. Supreme Court was handed down on March 4th, handing Trump a victory. SCOTUS unanimously ruled that only Congress has the power to enforce the 14th Amendment, putting Trump back on the ballot.
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