The group fighting to ban former President Donald Trump from Colorado’s 2024 ballot pushed their case forward Thursday with a new plea to the Supreme Court, records show.
Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a motion to expedite their 14th Amendment insurrectionist challenge after the state’s GOP appealed the Colorado Supreme Court ruling in their favor.
The watchdog group asked for oral arguments by January 19, 2024, the filing shows.
Colorado will hold its presidential primary on March 5, which means the state must certify the ballot on January 5, the plaintiffs note.
“These fast-approaching deadlines require quick resolution of all petitions for certiorari,” the motion reads, “so that primary voters will know whether Trump is disqualified when they cast their ballots.”
In their corner stands Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold, who urged the Supreme Court to "act quickly" to uphold Trump's ban from the state's primary ballot.
"Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot," Griswold wrote. "The Colorado Supreme Court got it right.”
Trump denies these claims and his party argues the Colorado ruling is a threat to American Democracy.
“By excluding President Trump from the ballot, the Colorado Supreme Court engaged in an unprecedented disregard for the First Amendment right of political parties to select the candidates of their choice and a usurpation of the rights of the people to choose their elected officials,” attorneys representing the party wrote.
A pause on the state court’s ruling could be extended until the Supreme Court decides whether or not to consider the appeal, CNN notes.
