Michigan Judge Rules Trump Will Remain on State's Primary Ballot

A Michigan judge has made a significant ruling, deciding that former President Donald Trump will remain on the state's primary ballot. This decision comes as a blow to efforts that sought to halt Trump's candidacy based on a Civil War-era Constitutional clause.

This is the second time within a week that a state court has refused to remove Trump from a primary ballot by citing the insurrection provision of the 14th Amendment.

In Michigan, Judge James Redford of the Court of Claims dismissed arguments claiming that Trump's involvement in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol should render him ineligible for the presidency. Redford emphasized that because Trump adhered to the state law in qualifying for the primary ballot, it is not within the court's jurisdiction to remove the former president from it.

Furthermore, Redford asserted that determining whether an event can be classified as a "rebellion or insurrection" and analyzing individual participation in such an event should fall under the purview of Congress and not a single judge. He stated that a judge cannot possibly embody the diverse perspectives of every citizen of the nation, a role fulfilled by the House of Representatives and the Senate.

In response to this ruling, Free Speech For People, a liberal organization known for initiating 14th Amendment cases in various states, intends to promptly appeal to the Michigan Court of Appeals. They are also urging the state supreme court to expedite the case.

"We are disappointed by the trial court's decision, and we're appealing it immediately," expressed Ron Fein, Legal Director of Free Speech For People.

Trump Campaign Responds to Lawsuits Aimed at Barring Trump from Ballot

In a recent statement, Steven Cheung, spokesman for the Trump campaign, addressed the lawsuits that have been filed in an attempt to bar Trump from the ballot. Cheung dismissed these cases as "ridiculous" and deemed them "un-Constitutional left-wing fantasies." He went on to suggest that the lawsuits were part of an orchestrated effort by allies of the Biden campaign to overturn the election results and deny the American people their right to choose their next president.

Similar lawsuits have been filed by left-leaning groups in various states, with the intent of portraying Trump as inciting the January 6th attack on Congress. The attack, which aimed to prevent the certification of Joe Biden's 2020 presidential election win, has led to these legal challenges.

The 14th Amendment contains a two-sentence clause that has rarely been utilized since the post-Civil War era. It is highly probable that one of the ongoing cases will eventually be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, which has never ruled on the insurrection clause before.

Just last week, the Minnesota Supreme Court gave a ruling that avoided directly addressing the issue. They allowed Trump to remain on the state's primary ballot, stating that constitutional eligibility does not come into play during party-run contests. This ruling did leave room for the possibility of another lawsuit aimed at keeping Trump off the state's general election ballot.

Meanwhile, in Colorado, a judge will soon make a decision on a similar lawsuit. The case is expected to conclude by Friday, with closing arguments scheduled for Wednesday.

These ongoing legal battles are key moments in determining whether Trump will be permitted to appear on state ballots in upcoming elections. The outcome of these cases will undoubtedly have significant implications for the future of American politics.