An Illinois state judge made a ruling on Wednesday that prevents Donald Trump from appearing on the Illinois' Republican presidential primary ballot, citing his alleged involvement in the January 6, 2021, insurrection at the US Capitol. However, the judge opted to delay the implementation of her decision, anticipating an appeal from the former US president.
Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter sided with Illinois voters who contended that Trump should be disqualified from participating in the state's March 19 primary ballot and subsequent November 5 general election ballot due to his perceived violation of the anti-insurrection provision outlined in the US Constitution's 14th Amendment.
While Porter rendered her decision, she opted to stay its enforcement, considering the likelihood of Trump's appeal to Illinois' appellate courts and potential review by the US Supreme Court.
The advocacy group Free Speech For People, which spearheaded the effort to disqualify Trump in Illinois, hailed the judge's ruling as a "historic victory" in a released statement.
Responding to the ruling, a campaign spokesperson for Trump, who currently leads the pack for the 2024 Republican nomination, denounced it as "unconstitutional" and pledged a swift appeal.
Before the Illinois decision, both Colorado and Maine had removed Trump from their respective state ballots based on findings that he violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution. However, these actions are currently pending review as Trump pursues appeals.
Section 3 prohibits individuals from holding public office if they previously swore to uphold the US Constitution and subsequently engaged in insurrection, rebellion, or provided aid to its enemies.
Trump's supporters stormed the Capitol on January 6, 2021, attempting to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's victory in the 2020 presidential election. Trump, in a fiery speech preceding the events, encouraged his supporters to march on the Capitol and "fight like hell," failing to intervene for hours despite pleas to de-escalate the situation.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is deliberating Trump's challenge to his disqualification in Colorado, with justices expressing skepticism about the ramifications of state-level decisions that could impact national elections during oral arguments.
