The Michigan Supreme Court has dismissed an effort to exclude former President Donald Trump from the 2024 primary ballot in the state.
Several far-left legal groups have sought to disqualify the former president from the primary ballot in over twelve states. These legal challenges reference Section III of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who have participated in insurrection while holding federal office from running for federal positions.
Even though Trump has not faced charges, let alone been convicted, of inciting the events of January 6, 2021, the Colorado Supreme Court issued an unprecedented decision to exclude him from the ballot last week. Trump has expressed his intention to challenge this ruling by appealing to the U.S. Supreme Court.
The Michigan Supreme Court opted for a different course of action, diverging from the decision made in Colorado.
“Significantly, Colorado’s election laws differ from Michigan’s laws in a material way that is directly relevant to why the appellants in this case are not entitled to the relief they seek concerning the presidential primary election in Michigan,” reads the ruling.
A liberal-leaning organization lodged an appeal against a prior decision from an appeals court, which had determined that Michigan’s secretary of state does not possess the authority to exclude Trump from the ballot, irrespective of the interpretation of the 14th Amendment.
The high court, under Democratic control, acknowledged the appeal but ultimately rejected it, stating that they were not convinced that the presented questions warranted review by the court.
Lawyers representing Free Speech for People, a left-leaning nonprofit organization actively engaged in endeavors to prevent Trump’s inclusion on the primary ballot in Minnesota, had earlier requested the Michigan Supreme Court to deliver its decision by Christmas Day.
The group contended that a swift decision was crucial, emphasizing the urgency in finalizing and printing ballots for the upcoming presidential primary election. With Wednesday’s ruling, Trump secures a legal triumph in his campaign’s efforts to counter numerous challenges to his ballot eligibility in preparation for the 2024 election.
