CHICAGO: An Illinois state judge on Wednesday barred former US president Donald Trump from appearing on the Illinois’ Republican presidential primary ballot because of his role in the US Capitol riots on January 6, 2021.
However, the judge delayed her ruling from taking effect due to expected appeal by the former US president.
Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter agreed with Illinois voters who argued that the former president should be disqualified from the state’s March 19 primary ballot and November 5 general election ballot for violating the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment.
The final outcome of the case will likely be decided by the US Supreme Court, which heard the case pertaining to Trump’s ballot eligibility on February 8.
Porter ruled that she was staying her verdict because she expected an appeal to Illinois’ appellate courts, and a ruling from the US Supreme Court.
The advocacy group Free Speech For People, welcomed the ruling terming it as historic victory.
Trump’s spokesperson terms ruling unconstitutional
A spokesperson for Trump’s campaign, the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination, in a statement termed the ruling unconstitutional saying that they will quickly appeal.
Earlier Colorado and Maine barred Trump from their state ballots after declaring him disqualified under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to the Constitution.
Section 3 stops from public office to anyone who took an oath to support the US Constitution and then has engaged in rebellion or insurrection.
Trump supporters on January 6, 2021, assaulted police and ran over the Capitol in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying election victory of Democrat Joe Biden in 2020.
Trump also in a speech to his supporters asked them to go to the Capitol and fight. He then for hours did not take any decision on requests that asked him to stop the mob.
