The Supreme Court has made an announcement Sunday signaling its intention to issue at least one decision on Monday, indicating a likely ruling on former President Donald J. Trump’s eligibility for Colorado’s primary ballot.
The announcement specified that Monday’s opinion or opinions would be made available online starting at 10 a.m., clarifying that the court would not convene in session, a departure from its usual practice of announcing decisions from the bench.
The court’s decision to expedite its actions may have been influenced by the electoral calendar, particularly the looming Super Tuesday primaries this week, including Colorado, as urged by the Colorado Republican Party in its plea for the justices to intervene.
The anticipated ruling is expected to address not only Mr. Trump’s eligibility for the Colorado primary ballot but also his eligibility to run in the general election, with potential implications for other states where his eligibility has been challenged.
This marks a significant instance of the Supreme Court assuming a direct role in a presidential contest since the landmark 2000 decision in Bush v. Gore, which determined the presidency.
In December, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled Mr. Trump ineligible under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office.
Following Mr. Trump’s appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 3, the justices moved swiftly to address the matter, granting review just two days after the filing and scheduling arguments approximately a month later.
Based on the questioning during oral arguments, Mr. Trump appears likely to prevail in the case.
The court is also deliberating another case involving Mr. Trump, regarding his immunity from prosecution for allegedly plotting to overturn the 2020 election results. This case has progressed more slowly, with arguments scheduled for late April.
If the court issues its decision in the Colorado case on Monday, it will have done so within a month of hearing arguments. If it maintains a similar pace for the immunity case, a decision could be expected in late May, potentially leading to pretrial proceedings and a trial later in the year if Mr. Trump loses.
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