Staff Reports
In a surprising twist, the Colorado Supreme Court, predominantly composed of justices appointed by Democratic governors, delivered a decision to exclude Former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 ballot. The move sparked immediate outcry from Republicans, labeling the decision as politically motivated and an overreach of judicial authority.
Liberal Colorado justices come under scrutiny after booting Trump from ballothttps://t.co/xnqsol9rwP pic.twitter.com/09scloaSgM
— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) December 21, 2023
Colorado's House Minority Leader, Mike Lynch, condemned the unelected judges for what he deemed as meddling in politics, emphasizing their appointed status that seemed to disregard the will of the people.
Adding to the controversy, it was uncovered that the majority of the justices who ruled in favor of Trump's disqualification had graduated from Ivy League law schools, while the dissenting judges hailed from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law, highlighting potential biases in the court's composition.
The blame for this perceived liberal dominance in the judiciary was pointed towards former Democratic Governor John Hickenlooper, responsible for selecting five out of the seven justices. Critics alleged that these hand-picked judges exhibited a partisan agenda by disqualifying Trump from the ballot.
Interestingly, it was noted that the absence of conservative jurist Allison Eid, who departed the Colorado Supreme Court in 2017 for the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals, might have influenced the outcome. Her replacement, Justice Hart, aligned with the liberal majority in removing the former president—a decision that carried an ironic twist, considering Trump had appointed Judge Eid to the federal bench.
The justices voting against Trump's eligibility were characterized as part of a roster of liberal elite:
- Justice Monica M. Marquez, known for her progressive activism and status as the court's first Hispanic and openly gay member.
- Justice William W. Hood III, also appointed by Hickenlooper, whose history of liberal activism was highlighted.
- Justice Richard L. Gabriel, a Hickenlooper appointee from New York City, whose decision was criticized alongside his spouse’s role as a federal public defender.
- Justice Melissa Hart, with ties to Denver and a past career as a trial attorney for the Justice Department, perceived to lean liberal.
Critics argued that the stronghold of liberal justices within the Colorado Supreme Court led to contentious decisions like this one, emphasizing the need for impartiality and adherence to the law. Calls were made to restore balance within the judiciary, aiming to halt what was perceived as partisan rulings.
