The Maine Supreme Court has decided not to intervene in the issue of whether former President Donald Trump should remain on the state’s ballot. A judge had previously stated that the U.S. Supreme Court should have the final say on a similar case in Colorado.
Democrat Shenna Bellows argued that Trump did not meet the qualifications to be included on the ballot, citing the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution. However, the judge put a hold on Bellows’ decision until the U.S. Supreme Court reaches a verdict in the Colorado case.
In a unanimous decision, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court rejected Bellows’ appeal against the order, which required her to await the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision before making any changes to her own decision regarding Trump’s eligibility for the primary ballot on Super Tuesday.
According to the court, the Secretary of State had argued that delaying a final decision would cause voter confusion, but the court found that this uncertainty was a key factor in their decision not to pursue immediate appellate review in this specific case.
Bellows’ determination in December, which declared Trump ineligible, made her the first election official to bar the Republican frontrunner from appearing on the ballot based on the 14th Amendment. The Colorado Supreme Court also reached the same conclusion in a similar case.
Maine’s Primary Approaches: Legal Battle Surrounds Trump’s Ballot Eligibility
As the March 5 primary in Maine approaches, the timeline is becoming increasingly tight. On February 8, the US Supreme Court will hold hearings on a Colorado case that has the potential to impact the eligibility of former President Donald Trump to run for office. Focusing on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, legal scholars are debating whether Trump’s actions in contesting the 2020 presidential election and inciting the storming of the US Capitol could be considered an “engagement in insurrection.”
It is worth noting that the US Supreme Court has never ruled on this particular clause of the 14th Amendment. Consequently, the outcome of these arguments will have far-reaching implications. Particularly, if the court were to rule against Trump, it could bar him from holding any future office.
In light of these developments, Maine has already begun mailing overseas ballots. This highlights the urgency of resolving the legal battle surrounding Trump’s eligibility before the primary election. However, there are concerns that the tight timeline may limit a thorough examination of the issue.
Trump himself has argued that Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows, who was elected by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, should have recused herself due to bias. According to Trump, Bellows’ actions have disenfranchised voters in Maine and are part of a broader effort to keep him off the ballot. On her part, Bellows maintains that she was bound by state law to make a determination after several residents challenged Trump’s right to be on the primary ballot. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, she decided to put her decision on hold pending judicial proceedings and pledged to adhere to any ruling ultimately made by the court.
The outcome of this case could have significant ramifications for both Trump and the interpretation of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. As Maine gets closer to its primary election, all eyes will be on the legal battle surrounding Trump’s ballot eligibility and the potential precedent it may establish.
