An Illinois judge on Wednesday removed former President Donald Trump from the state's ballot, citing a ruling based on the 14th Amendment's “insurrectionist prohibition,” according to court documents.
Cook County Democratic Judge Tracy Porter It was deleted Porter based his decision on the 14th Amendment's “insurrection” clause, which prohibits elected officials from holding public office if they commit an insurrection. The judge's decision will be put on hold until March 1, in anticipation of the former president's appeal, according to court documents.
“The Illinois State Board of Elections, pursuant to procedures within its executive authority, will remove Donald J. Trump from the ballot for the March 19, 2024 general primary election or suppress votes cast for him. “It shall be,” the judgment said.
The ruling came a month after an anti-Trump challenge was unanimously rejected by the Illinois State Board of Elections, which filed a lawsuit claiming it didn't have the authority to consider the issue. was rejected. (Related: Supreme Court is set to consider President Trump's eligibility to vote. Here's what you need to know)
In a surprising move, an Illinois judge removed Trump from the vote based on the “insurrectionist ban.” The decision will be set aside, giving him time to appeal. https://t.co/I8qdf9kBTB
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) February 29, 2024
Illinois became the third state to exclude Trump from the state's Republican primary ballot. The Colorado Supreme Court disqualified a former president from voting for the first time in December 2023, when the court ruled in a 4-3 decision that President Trump allegedly violated the 14th Amendment. . Shortly after, Maine Secretary of State Shena Bellows also removed Trump from the ballot after holding a hearing on the former president's three challenges.
Both Colorado and Maine's rulings have been suspended since President Trump appealed the decisions to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Illinois challenge was brought by a left-wing-funded legal advocacy group called Free Speech For People, which seeks to remove the former president from ballots in Michigan, Minnesota and Oregon. The previous attempt failed.
Porter held a hearing with Trump's lawyers in late January, questioning them about the events of January 6, 2021. Lawyers for the former president argued the incident was a “political riot” rather than a riot, CNN rreported.
“This is about government action, and there is no indication that there was any premeditation by the rioters,” said Nicholas Nelson, Trump's lawyer. “They were just angry.”
Notably, Trump has not been legally convicted of any criminal charges related to the events of January 6th. The former president can appeal the decision within state court.
