In a major legal development, the Oregon Supreme Court is expected to rule on whether former President Trump will remain on the state's 2024 ballot. Trump's attorneys have recently filed a brief with the court, urging them to allow him to stay on the ballot. Currently, Trump is banned from appearing on the 2024 ballot in Maine and Colorado. While he has not yet appealed these decisions, it has been reported that he will file the appeals on Tuesday.
As Republican voters are preparing to caucus and vote in various states in the coming days, the clock is ticking for Trump's legal team. The Colorado Republican Party has already filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, seeking to overturn the state's ruling. The ongoing legal and political turmoil surrounding Trump's eligibility for the 2024 ballot is unlikely to be resolved until a final decision is reached by the high court.
Not only does Trump's eligibility hang in the balance, but several other crucial cases also await resolution by the Supreme Court, casting a significant shadow over the upcoming 2024 election. In another legal development, a federal appeals court recently issued a ruling with potentially substantial implications for Trump's legal future. The court stated that Trump is not shielded by presidential immunity in a lawsuit brought against him by U.S. Capitol Police officers in relation to the events of January 6th.
With a flurry of filings and appeals expected from Trump's legal team in the coming days, the first week of January is shaping up to be pivotal. Trump's team will need to appeal the Colorado Supreme Court's decision and the ruling from the Maine secretary of state. The appeal in Maine will trigger a review by the Maine Superior Court before potentially being escalated to higher courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court could potentially step in and decide whether they will hear these issues and make a ruling. The outcome will not only impact Trump's eligibility in various states' primary elections but also raise questions regarding whether states can exclude him from the ballot if he becomes the eventual nominee in the general election.
Complicating matters further are the looming trials scheduled for early 2024, including a defamation case initiated by E. Jean Carroll against Trump, set to commence on January 16th. Trump's team has expressed a desire to delay this trial and is expected to employ a strategy of delay throughout the year.
The timeline is critical, as Colorado's primary ballots must be finalized in the coming weeks. However, Trump's legal team is hopeful that a resolution will be reached before the primary in March. They have filed a motion to expedite the process, requesting the court to set a briefing schedule that would allow for arguments and a ruling before February 11th when the mailing of ballots begins. Nevertheless, concerns have been raised regarding potential inconsistencies between mail-in and in-person voting if the issue remains unsettled.
While some legal experts believe that the Supreme Court may ultimately side with Trump, citing a strong constitutional case and historical arguments, opponents contest these views. They argue that Trump received an ample amount of due process during the hearings and that his claims of violated due process are unfounded.
As the Oregon Supreme Court's ruling on Trump's ballot eligibility looms, all eyes are on the legal battles that continue to shape the political landscape leading up to the 2024 election. The outcome of these cases will undoubtedly have significant consequences, not only for Trump but for the entire nation.
