Michigan’s Supreme Court has ruled to keep former President Donald Trump on the state’s primary election ballot, dismissing an appeal from groups wishing to exclude him. The court’s decision, conveyed in an order, clarified that the application for appeal of a Dec. 14 Michigan appeals court ruling was denied because the court was unconvinced that the presented questions warranted its review.
In a significant turn of events, the ruling coincided with a divided Colorado Supreme Court decision on Dec. 19, which deemed Trump ineligible for the presidency due to his involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol protest. Notably, this marked the inaugural utilization of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment to disqualify a presidential candidate. Numerous cases, including those in Michigan and Colorado, are actively seeking to prevent Trump’s name from appearing on state ballots, emphasizing the “insurrection clause” barring individuals who have “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” against the Constitution from holding office.
Trump’s alleged interference with Michigan’s 2020 vote certification was spotlighted, as a recording of a post-election phone call revealed him pressuring two election officials in Wayne County. The authenticity of this recording, disclosed in a Dec. 22 report by The Detroit News, remains unconfirmed by Trump’s 2024 campaign. Various cases, such as those in Michigan and Minnesota, underscore the so-called insurrection clause in their bid to keep Trump off the primary ballot.
Amid these legal battles, the nonprofit group Free Speech for People, engaged in endeavors to prevent Trump’s inclusion on the primary ballot in Minnesota, had urged Michigan’s Supreme Court to expedite its decision, citing the urgency tied to finalizing and printing presidential primary election ballots. However, the court’s previous stance, taken earlier this month, persisted, as it declined an immediate appeal, asserting that the case should follow the established route through the appeals court.
Free Speech for People had initiated legal action to compel Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson to prohibit Trump’s inclusion on Michigan’s ballot. Despite their efforts, a Michigan Court of Claims judge, back in November, dismissed their contentions, affirming that the responsibility to address the matter rested with Congress.
