The Supreme Court is poised for a pivotal session on Thursday, as experts anticipate a cautious approach to the question of reinstating former President Donald Trump on Colorado’s GOP primary ballot.
The implications are monumental, touching on the integrity of the judiciary, the potential sway over an election’s outcome, and safeguarding the public’s confidence in democratic institutions, reminiscent of the Bush v. Gore saga.
A rapid overview finds the hearings scheduled for 10 am ET Thursday, with Trump’s eligibility for inclusion in Colorado’s Republican primary at the fore—an issue echoed in several other states.
In a decisive move last December, Colorado’s highest court concluded that Trump’s actions on January 6 constituted an insurrection, rendering him unfit for the presidency under the 14th Amendment and effectively barring him from the ballot.
The crux of Trump’s legal argument hinges on nuanced interpretations—challenging the notion that the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment pertains to the presidency, debating the classification of the January 6 events as an insurrection, and contending his non-participation in such an act.
Should Trump’s team convince the justices of even one of these contentions, it may suffice for victory. However, a judgment that appears to clear Trump of January 6 culpability or allows for an insurrectionist president would likely provoke an intense backlash against the court.
