Staff Reports
The legal tussle aimed at disqualifying former President Donald Trump from Colorado's ballot faced a challenging reception at the Supreme Court on Thursday, casting doubt on the potential for a unanimous verdict. Trump's legal team must sway the justices, particularly those appointed by Republicans and Democrats, to find consensus on his eligibility to stand in the significant 14th Amendment challenge.
Will Trump secure a 9-0 victory at the Supreme Court? https://t.co/pQHLNhCgsz https://t.co/pQHLNhCgsz
— Washington Examiner (@dcexaminer) February 9, 2024
During proceedings, the justices displayed skepticism toward upholding the Colorado Supreme Court's decision, which would bar Trump from the state's primary ballot if upheld. Notably, even liberal justices, Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, voiced unease. Kagan questioned the state's authority to dictate presidential candidates, while Jackson probed the framers' omission of "president" from the Constitution's enumerated list.
In contrast, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, though part of the minority bloc, exhibited no reservations about Trump's removal from the ballot, pressing Trump's attorney Jonathan Mitchell. Post-arguments, many legal experts doubted the challengers' assertions swayed the Supreme Court.
Trump himself deemed the oral arguments a "very beautiful process," signaling confidence in his favor. Observers speculated that the justices' response to Colorado voters' arguments might foster a unified 6-3 decision.
A prevailing sentiment among the justices was skepticism regarding Colorado's authority to exclude a presidential candidate from the ballot. Such a ruling could not only favor Trump's electoral ambitions but also enhance the court's public trust, an ongoing concern.
