In a stunning twist in the ongoing saga of former President Donald Trump’s political career, a Cook County judge has ruled that Trump’s name must be removed from Illinois’ primary ballot set for March 19. Judge Tracie Porter made the landmark decision on Wednesday but held back the order’s implementation until Friday to allow time for an appeal.
Judge Porter’s Historic Decision
Judge Porter’s decision came in response to a lawsuit filed by a group of five voters who are endeavoring to get Trump’s name off the primary ballot. This group cites the attack on the U.S. Capitol that occurred on January 6, 2021, as the reason for their actions. They argue that Trump’s encouragement of the riot and his lack of intervention to stop it render him ineligible to hold office.
The argument is anchored in a rarely invoked clause in the 14th Amendment, which disqualifies those who have “engaged in insurrection” from holding any office. This case is not an isolated incident; dozens of similar lawsuits have been filed across the country, all aiming to remove Trump from the ballot using the same argument.
In her 38-page ruling, Judge Porter stated that the group of voters’ petition should have been granted as they had met their burden. She labeled the Election Board’s decision as “clearly erroneous.”
Reactions to the Ruling
Ron Fein, Legal Director of Free Speech For People and co-lead counsel in the case, hailed the decision as a “historic victory.” He said, “Every court or official that has addressed the merits of Trump’s constitutional eligibility has found that he engaged in insurrection after taking the oath of office and is therefore disqualified from the presidency.”
On the other hand, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized the ruling, labeling it as the product of an “activist Democrat judge.” He stated that the judge had “overruled the state’s board of elections and contradicted earlier decisions from dozens of other state and federal jurisdictions.” Cheung further declared the ruling as unconstitutional and vowed a swift appeal.
What’s Next?
As it stands, the order will be enacted unless the Supreme Court’s ruling contradicts it. This comes after the U.S. Supreme Court signaled earlier this month that it might reject this strategy when it heard an appeal of a similar ruling in Colorado. Like the Illinois decision, the Colorado ruling is on hold until the appeal is concluded.
For more analysis on this landmark ruling, visit NPR or BBC News for an international perspective.
As the political landscape continues to shift, all eyes will be on the Supreme Court to see how it will rule on this contentious issue. Regardless of the outcome, this case marks a significant moment in American political history.
