Maine's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the U.S. Supreme Court will rule on Colorado's 14th Amendment case and deny Trump's appeal from Maine Secretary of State Shena Bellows, a Democrat. The president can remain on Maine's primary ballot.
In a unanimous decision, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court must consider the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling in the Colorado voting case before reversing, changing or upholding its decision to block Trump's name from Maine's primary ballot. It upheld a lower judge's order asking Bellows to wait. March 5th.
In December 2023, Bellows ruled that Trump could not be on the ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The article prohibits public servants from holding public office if they have previously taken an oath of support for the constitution and then engage in rebellion or rebellion against the constitution. America.
The decision makes Maine the second state after Colorado to block Trump from appearing on the ballot due to his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
Trump appealed the decision in state court, but the judge subsequently declined to consider the merits of the case. But the justices said Trump could remain on the ballot until the Supreme Court rules on the Colorado case, after which Bellows would have to reevaluate the ruling.
Bellows noted that the state's primary election is coming up on Super Tuesday, March 5, and warned that a wrong decision on Trump's eligibility would put Maine in a “precarious position.” was. He said voters may vote with answers about Trump's eligibility still unresolved.
The Maine Attorney General's Office said, “The halt to this proceeding and the subsequent February U.S. Supreme Court ruling ultimately freed the Secretary and his staff from harm to the integrity of the March 5, 2024 election.'' “We may have to work hard to keep it to a minimum.” Bellows' attorney wrote in a court filing.
Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
