United States: The US Supreme Court will consider the question of Donald Trump's ineligibility

The Supreme Court, with a conservative majority, announced on Friday that it would consider the case on February 8.

Published on May 1, 2024 11:44 p.m. Updated on May 1, 2024 11:48 p.m

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Former US President Donald Trump during his trial in New York, December 7, 2023. (EDUARDO MUNOZ ALVAREZ / AFP)

The US Supreme Court agreed on Friday, January 5, to address the question of Donald Trump's ineligibility in connection with a decision made in Colorado that barred the former president from appearing on the ballot in that state would. The Supreme Court was directly involved in a highly political matter and, with a conservative majority, announced that it would consider the case on February 8th.

Until she makes her decision, ballots in Colorado must continue to contain Donald Trump's name, as well as in Maine, another state that has made a similar decision. Donald Trump, the heavy favorite in the Republican primary for next November's presidential election, on Wednesday asked the Supreme Court, which he has largely overhauled, to take up the matter.

Historic Decisions in Colorado and Maine

In late December, the Colorado Supreme Court and then the Maine Secretary of State made the decision to bar Donald Trump from running in the Republican primary there, a historic decision. In both states, officials estimated that the Republican billionaire would not be able to return to the White House because the Republican committed “insurrection” during the 2021 attack on the Capitol and therefore he is ineligible for the presidency under the 14th state amendment the Constitution.

This amendment, passed after the American Civil War, exempts from public liability anyone who has taken an “oath to defend the Constitution” and engages in “rebellion” or “insurrection.” In this context, does this amendment apply to Donald Trump? That is the burning question the court must answer.