States Can’t Keep Trump Off

The Supreme Court, in a unanimous decision on Monday, ruled that states lack the authority to disqualify Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot. This decision thwarted attempts by critics to bar him over his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, Capitol attack. The court, while refraining from addressing whether Trump engaged in insurrection, issued an unsigned opinion stating that only Congress, not states, can invoke the Constitution’s “insurrection clause” to disqualify a presidential candidate. The ruling overturned a Colorado decision that sought to remove Trump from its ballot, signaling the end of various state-level challenges based on the 14th Amendment’s provision disqualifying those engaged in insurrection. The decision, issued a day before Super Tuesday primaries, expressed concerns about inconsistent and potentially chaotic judgments by individual states on candidates’ eligibility. Three liberal justices concurred with the result but argued for a narrower ruling, leaving room for federal courts to disqualify candidates for insurrection. The opinion emphasized avoiding electoral chaos and inconsistency across states. Justice Amy Coney Barrett, appointed by Trump, issued a separate one-page opinion emphasizing the unanimity of the court’s decision and urging a de-escalation of political tensions. The case, originating in Colorado, involved challenges from various groups, including Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, asserting that Trump’s eligibility should be denied due to his role in the Capitol attack. While this decision concluded the immediate ballot-related challenges, the Supreme Court is set to address other issues impacting Trump’s political future, including a challenge to claims of presidential immunity from criminal charges related to the 2020 election. The ruling, released online and in print, marks an unusual involvement of the Supreme Court in an impending presidential election.