In a significant legal development, Judge Tracie Porter of the Circuit Court of Cook County, Illinois, has ruled to exclude former President Donald Trump from the presidential ballot in the state. The decision, made on February 28th, 2024, leverages Trump’s alleged role in the events of January 6th as the primary reason.
This ruling comes at a critical time, just weeks before the state’s primary on March 19, potentially impacting Trump’s campaign significantly. In response, Trump’s campaign spokesman, Steven Cheung, announced plans to appeal the decision, deeming it unconstitutional.
The basis for Judge Porter’s ruling is rooted in the 14th Amendment, Section 3 of the U.S. Constitution, which bars individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the U.S., and who have previously sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution, from holding office, as per Mediaite.
This clause, largely overlooked for over a century, gained prominence following a December ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that disqualified Trump from presidential candidacy due to his involvement in the January 6th events.
This unprecedented use of the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause has sparked a series of legal battles across various states, including Illinois, Colorado, and Maine, regarding Trump’s eligibility for the ballot. The Illinois State Board of Elections initially declared it lacked authority to remove Trump from the ballot, leading to the court’s intervention in favor of the petitioners seeking his disqualification.
The U.S. Supreme Court is expected to soon adjudicate on this matter, which could invalidate state-level efforts to disqualify Trump if it rules in his favor. Legal Analyst Irv Miller from CBS 2 commented on the situation, suggesting that the Cook County court’s decision might hold little weight pending the Supreme Court’s review, especially as the Court is also set to consider Trump’s claim for immunity from prosecution about attempts to influence the 2020 election results. Earlier, the U.S. Appeals Court had denied Trump’s plea for immunity, adding another layer to the complex legal challenges facing the former president.
