The U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday heard oral arguments in a case that could have major implications on this fall’s presidential race. Justices appeared skeptical of a move by the state of Colorado to remove former President Donald Trump from the ballot.
Chief Justice John Roberts led the sharp questioning whether individual states should be able to decide for themselves which candidates are ineligible for office based on the Constitution’s insurrection clause.
“It’ll come down to just a handful of states that are going to decide the presidential election,” said Roberts. “That’s a pretty daunting consequence.”
The Colorado court court referenced the so-called insurrection clause in the Fourteenth Amendment, which prohibits certain elected officials, including an “Officer of the United States,” from holding office if he or shethey hashave engaged in insurrection against the United States.
All nine U.S. Supreme Court justices seemed to displayed some skepticism over the arguments from the attorney challenging Trump’s eligibility. He Cclaimeding the former president did not engage in the insurrection stating thatstating, that “fFor an insurrection, there needs to be an organized concerted effort.”
Given the election calendar, it is likely the court will move quickly to issue a decision, perhaps in a manner of weeks.
