OPINION | This article contains the author's opinion.
An Illinois judge ruled to remove Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment which bars those who engaged in insurrection from holding public office.
This overturned an earlier decision by the state board of elections to keep Trump on the ballot.
The ruling found that Trump’s actions surrounding the January 6th Capitol riot violated the Constitution’s disqualification clause.
However, the order is stayed until a possible appeal.
Trump’s team called it an unconstitutional ruling they would appeal.
A campaign spokesperson for Trump wrote in a statement, that it was “an unconstitutional ruling that we will quickly appeal.”
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court is considering the reach of Section 3 as it relates to a former president’s immunity from prosecution over alleged election interference.
According to the 14th Amendment, Section 3 of the Constitution, “No person shall… hold any office… under the United States… who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States… to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”
Former Speaker Nancy Pelosi commented that the Court will determine if any person, including an ex-president, is above the law.
Pelosi posted, “The Supreme Court is placing itself on trial with its decision to hear the former president’s total immunity claim. It remains to be seen whether the justices will uphold the fundamental American value that no one is above the law – not even a former president.”
Illinois joins Colorado and Maine in removing Trump from their primary ballots.
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