Saturday 6 January 2024

What if the US Supreme Court rules against Trump?

So the Supreme Court of the United States has agreed to rule on the historic decision by the Colorado supreme court to prohibit Donald Trump from standing as Republican presidential candidate in the state because of his breach of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US constitution which disallows anyone holding public office who has incited or inspired a rebellion against the nation. The ruling is expected in February. Three of the judges on the Supreme Court were appointed by Trump but there is no guarantee that that will save Trump from the ignominious position of being banned from standing for the presidency. No wonder Trump is said to be concerned that he won't get the ruling he needs and wants because the judges have stipulated that whatever decision they make it will hold for every state, not just Colorado. That's huge, big-time, mammoth! What if the judges rule by a majority that Trump is ineligible to stand because of his perceived involvement in the January 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol and his attempts to override the 2020 election result? Such a ruling would be greeted with anger by every Trump loyalist. And then what? The Colorado supreme court judges, three women and four men, produced a detailed argument running to more than 120 pages. Legal experts concede the ruling was properly and decisively argued. The highest court in the land will be examining exactly the same arguments and could come to the same conclusion. But could it be argued that this would be a ruling against democracy, in other words a ruling that would prevent a huge number of voters from voting for the person of their choice to be the next president? If the judges discount this as an argument for keeping Trump's name on the ballot paper, the consequences could be both dangerous and unpredictable.

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