Colorado secretary of state responds to Supreme Court ruling Trump can stay on ballot

FOX31 Denver

4 Mar 202406:54

Summary

TLDRThe Supreme Court has ruled unanimously that former President Donald Trump cannot be removed from the Colorado primary ballot, a decision that comes right after Super Tuesday. This verdict follows arguments over whether Colorado could exclude Trump due to the 14th Amendment, concerning insurrection. The court's 20-page decision emphasizes maintaining a direct link between the national government and the people. Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold expressed disappointment but committed to following the ruling. The decision raises questions about the states' powers and the role of Congress in applying the 14th Amendment, highlighting the ongoing debate over eligibility and insurrection in political candidacies.

Takeaways

🔵 The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that former President Trump cannot be removed from the 2024 presidential primary ballot in Colorado, reversing the Colorado Supreme Court's previous decision.
🗳️ This ruling is seen as a significant win for Trump and his ability to run for president in 2024.
⚖️ The Supreme Court argued that allowing states to remove candidates from ballots would create a 'patchwork' system, undermining the direct link between the national government and the people.
📜 The court's 20-page opinion concluded that the Colorado Supreme Court erred in ordering Trump's exclusion from the state's primary ballot.
🌐 This decision also sets a precedent for other states like Illinois and Maine, which had made similar arguments to ban Trump from their ballots.
👀 Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold expressed disappointment with the ruling but stated she would follow it, allowing votes for Trump to be counted in the state's primary.
💬 Griswold argued that states should have the ability to remove insurrectionists from ballots under the 14th Amendment, but the Supreme Court disagreed, saying Congress must act first.
⏭️ The ruling comes on the heels of Super Tuesday and will likely impact the dynamics of the 2024 Republican primary race.
🗳️ Preparations are underway for Trump to address the decision and his supporters from his Mar-a-Lago estate.
💥 The decision is seen as a significant setback for efforts to prevent Trump from running for office again based on his actions surrounding the 2020 election.

Q & A

What was the significant decision made by the Supreme Court regarding the former President's eligibility for the ballot?
-The Supreme Court decided that the former President's name cannot be removed from the ballot by a state, specifically in this case, the state of Colorado.
How long was the Supreme Court's decision document?
-The Supreme Court's decision document was 20 pages long.
What was the main question raised in the Supreme Court's decision?
-The main question raised was whether the Colorado Supreme Court erred in ordering President Trump excluded from the 2024 Presidential primary ballot.
Why did the Supreme Court reverse the decision to exclude the former President from the ballot?
-The Supreme Court reversed the decision because excluding the former President would sever the direct link between the national government and the people of the United States, which the framers found critical.
What constitutional amendment was cited by Colorado in attempting to ban the former President from its ballots?
-Colorado cited the 14th Amendment, accusing the former President of engaging in insurrection after the 2020 election.
How did the Supreme Court rule regarding states' power to remove a candidate from the ballot?
-The Supreme Court ruled that states do not have the power to remove a candidate from the ballot, indicating a unanimous decision against Colorado's action.
What was Secretary of State Jena Griswold's reaction to the Supreme Court's ruling?
-Secretary of State Jena Griswold expressed disappointment with the Supreme Court's decision but stated that she would follow it, ensuring Donald Trump remains on the ballot and votes cast for him will be counted.
What did the Supreme Court suggest Congress could do regarding the application of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment?
-The Supreme Court suggested that Congress could act first by passing some type of law allowing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to be applied.
What does Section 3 of the 14th Amendment address?
-Section 3 of the 14th Amendment addresses the disqualification from office of individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.
What was Jena Griswold's view on the likelihood of Congress acting to enable the application of the 14th Amendment's Section 3 for this year's election?
-Jena Griswold considered it highly unlikely that the current nearly non-functioning Congress would act to pass legislation enabling the application of the 14th Amendment's Section 3 for this year's election.

Outlines

00:00

📜 Supreme Court's Decision on Trump's Ballot Presence

The news segment starts with a major announcement regarding the former President's eligibility to stay on the primary ballot for the upcoming election. The Supreme Court issued a 20-page unanimous decision against the Colorado Supreme Court's attempt to exclude Trump from the ballot, citing the 14th Amendment and accusations of insurrection after the 2020 election. The ruling emphasized maintaining a direct link between the national government and the people, as envisioned by the framers. Reaction to this decision varied, with President Trump celebrating it as a big win on social media, while others, like Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, expressed disappointment but committed to following the decision. The report highlights the importance of this ruling, not just for Colorado but potentially affecting similar moves by other states like Illinois and Maine, and underscores the ongoing debate over the balance of power between state and federal jurisdictions in electoral matters.

05:01

🗳️ Colorado's Preparedness and Future Legal Possibilities

In the follow-up discussion, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold elaborates on the state's readiness for the election in light of the Supreme Court's decision. Despite the ruling, the administration of the election remains unchanged, as Donald Trump has been on the ballots due to an active appeal, ensuring voters that their votes for Trump will be counted. Griswold views the decision as somewhat final, with little room for further legal challenges, especially given the current state of Congress, which she deems nearly non-functional. She stresses the importance of voter participation in upholding democracy, expressing confidence in Colorado's election process and the electorate's ability to navigate these complexities.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Supreme Court

The Supreme Court refers to the highest judicial body in the United States. In the context of this video script, the Supreme Court issued a 20-page decision unanimously ruling that former President Trump cannot be excluded from the 2024 presidential primary ballot in Colorado, citing that states do not have the power to control the qualifications of presidential candidates. This decision is seen as a significant victory for Trump and addresses concerns about states potentially implementing a 'patchwork' of rules regarding ballot access for presidential candidates.

💡Ballot

A ballot is a document or system used for voting, typically listing the candidates or issues to be voted on. Throughout the script, the term 'ballot' is frequently mentioned in relation to whether former President Trump's name should be included or excluded from the 2024 presidential primary ballot in Colorado and potentially other states. The Supreme Court's decision ensures that Trump's name will remain on the ballot, allowing voters to cast their votes for him in the primary election.

💡Insurrection

Insurrection refers to an act or instance of revolting against civil authority or an established government. In the script, there are references to Colorado and other states accusing Trump of engaging in insurrection after the 2020 election, presumably in relation to the events surrounding the Capitol riot on January 6, 2021. This accusation was part of the argument for attempting to remove Trump from the presidential ballot, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies individuals who have engaged in insurrection from holding office.

💡14th Amendment

The 14th Amendment to the United States Constitution addresses several aspects of citizenship, including due process and equal protection under the law. Section 3 of the 14th Amendment specifically prohibits individuals who have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States from holding federal or state office. This section was cited by Colorado and other states as a potential basis for disqualifying Trump from appearing on the presidential ballot due to his alleged involvement in the events surrounding the 2020 election.

💡Secretary of State

A Secretary of State is a senior government official responsible for various administrative duties, including overseeing and administering elections. In the script, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold is interviewed and provides her reaction to the Supreme Court's decision. As the chief election official in Colorado, Griswold had previously argued for excluding Trump from the state's ballot but expresses her disappointment with the Supreme Court's ruling while committing to following the decision and counting votes cast for Trump in the primary.

💡Reaction

Reaction refers to the response or feedback to a particular event or decision. Throughout the script, there is a focus on capturing the reactions from various individuals and groups to the Supreme Court's decision to allow Trump to remain on the presidential primary ballot in Colorado. Reactions are included from Trump himself, Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, and others, reflecting the significant impact and divisive nature of the ruling.

💡Primary Election

A primary election is a preliminary election in which voters from a particular political party choose the candidate who will represent that party in the general election. The script centers around the Supreme Court's decision regarding Trump's inclusion on the 2024 presidential primary ballot in Colorado, indicating that the ruling has implications for the upcoming primary elections, where voters will cast their votes to determine the party's nominee for president.

💡Unanimous Decision

A unanimous decision refers to a ruling or decision made unanimously by all members of a decision-making body, such as a court. In the context of the script, the Supreme Court's ruling to allow Trump on the Colorado primary ballot is described as a 'unanimous decision,' meaning that all nine justices voted in favor of the decision. This highlights the significance and weight of the ruling, as there was no dissenting opinion among the justices.

💡Super Tuesday

Super Tuesday is a term used in American presidential primaries, referring to a day when a large number of states hold their primary elections simultaneously. The script mentions that the Supreme Court's decision comes on the heels of Super Tuesday, indicating that the ruling has implications for the upcoming primaries and could potentially impact the momentum or outcome of the primary season.

💡Truth Social

Truth Social is a social media platform created by former President Trump and his team. The script references a post made by Trump on Truth Social at 8:03 a.m., stating 'BIG WIN FOR US' in reaction to the Supreme Court's decision to allow him on the Colorado ballot. This highlights Trump's use of the platform to directly communicate with his supporters and respond to significant events related to his candidacy and legal battles.

Highlights

BIGGEST COVERAGE. THIS IS FOX., 31 NEWS AT 10, 30.

WELL, THE BIG BREAKING NEWS, STORY THIS MORNING. FORMER, PRESIDENT WILL STAY ON THE, BALLOT FOR THE PRIMARY HERE IN, TOMORROW.

YEAH. EXACTLY., RIGHT. ON THE HEELS OF SUPER, TUESDAY ABOUT AS CLOSE AS IT, CAN GET

REACTION FROM, THE FORMER PRESIDENT HIMSELF., THIS IS AT 803, ON TRUTH,, SOCIAL AND WE'VE GOT THE, DECISION FROM THE SUPREME, COURT. A 20 PAGE RIDING 20, PAGE DECISION.

AND THIS IS, WHAT HE SAID. BIG WIN FOR, THIS AT 803, SOME MINUTES, LATER

NOW FOR MANY ANALYSTS, THAT LISTEN, THOSE ORAL, ARGUMENTS NEARLY A MONTH AGO, IS FEBRUARY 8. THIS IS THE, OUTCOME THAT MANY PREDICTED, THE UNANIMOUS DECISION BY THE, PRESIDENT'S NAME CANNOT BE, REMOVED FROM THE BALLOT BY A, STATE AND SPECIFICALLY IN THIS, CASE BY THE STATE OF COLORADO.

LET'S GO OVER THIS OPINION,, THIS 20 PAGE OPINION THAT WE, THIS MORNING ON PAGE 3, IT, SAYS RAISED A SINGLE QUESTION., DID THE COLORADO SUPREME COURT, AIR IN ORDERING PRESIDENT, TRUMP EXCLUDED FROM THE 2024, PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY BALLOT, CONCLUDING THAT IT DID. WE NOW, REVERSE

NOW ONTO A PART WHY, THEY FELT THEY NEEDED TO RULE, ON THIS IN THE FIRST SAID THE, PATCHWORK THAT WOULD LIKELY, WOULD SEVERED THE DIRECT LINK, THAT THE FRAMERS FOUND SO, CRITICAL BETWEEN NATIONAL, GOVERNMENT AND THE PEOPLE OF, THE UNITED STATES AS A WHOLE.

AND ESSENTIALLY HERE TO SUM IT, ALL UP THE JUDGMENT, THE, FIRST, THE MANDATE SHOUT ISSUE, FORTHWITH

TO GET YOU CAUGHT UP, ON THE STORY. IT'S TAKE A LIVE, LOOK AT THE SUPREME COURT, BUILDING THIS MORNING BECAUSE, JUST LAST MONTH INSIDE OF THAT, ARGUMENTS OVER WHETHER, COLORADO COULD BAN THE FORMER, PRESIDENT FROM ITS BALLOTS,, CITING THE 14TH AMENDMENT,, ACCUSING HIM OF ENGAGING IN, INSURRECTION AFTER THE 2020, ELECTION

SINCE THEN TO OTHER, STATES, ILLINOIS AND MAINE, HAVE MADE SIMILAR ARGUMENTS, AND WHAT HAPPENED THIS, MORNING. A LOT OF THE, OBVIOUSLY STRIKE THOSE DOWN AS, WELL.

WE JUST GOT A TWEET FROM, BOEBERT ABOUT THIS AS WELL AS, REACTION CONTINUES TO POUR, SAID VINDICATION AT LAST, PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL REMAIN, THE COLORADO BALLOT. THE, SCOTUS MADE THEIR RULING, OFFICIAL YET ANOTHER SWING AND, MISS FROM THE LOONY LEFT TRUMP, 20 OF 24

OF COURSE WE BROUGHT, YOU LAST HOUR. THE RESPONSE, THAT WE GOT FROM COLORADO,, SECRETARY OF STATE, JENA, GRISWOLD.

AND WE'RE ALSO, FORMER PRESIDENT. WE HAVE SOME, CAMERAS SET UP AT MAR-A-LAGO., THERE YOU SEE IT RIGHT THERE, LIVE. LOOK, HE IS EXPECTED TO, TAKE TO THE MICROPHONE THERE, AND DELIVER REMARKS AFTER WHAT, WE HEARD FROM THE SUPREME, COURT JUSTICES, JUST ABOUT 8, O'CLOCK THIS MORNING IS WHEN, THAT 20 PAGE OPINION CAME DOWN

AND AGAIN KIRCHEN LISA, NOT A, SURPRISE. MANY ANALYSTS, PREDICTED THAT THIS WOULD BE A, UNANIMOUS DECISION SIMPLY IN, THE FACT THAT STATE'S THEY DO, NOT WANT CONTROLLING SOMETHING, LIKE THIS, THE PRESIDENTIAL, ELECTION.