Court Takes Decision On Barring Donald Trump From Contesting 2024 Presidential Primaries

The Supreme Court of Minnesota on Wednesday, refused to grant a petition seeking to bar Donald Trump from contesting the 2024 Republican presidential primary.

Naija News understands some stakeholders had approached the court seeking to stop Trump from appearing 2024 Republican presidential primary ballot in the state.

They based their argument on the grounds that he violated his oath of office by engaging in an insurrection — the January 6, 2021 attack on the US Capitol by his supporters.

However, their request was denied by the court in the ruling given by Chief Justice Natalie Hudson.

The argument rests on an amendment to the Constitution ratified after the 1861-65 Civil War.

Section 3 of the 14th Amendment bars anyone from holding public office if they engage in “insurrection or rebellion” after once having pledged to support and defend the Constitution.

Ratified in 1868, the amendment was aimed at preventing supporters of the slave-holding Confederacy from being elected to Congress or from holding federal positions.

Citing the 14th Amendment, a group of voters in Minnesota petitioned the state supreme court to keep Trump off the ballot for the Republican presidential primary to be held in March and the presidential election to be held in November.

Justice Hudson in the court ruling said: “There is no state statute that prohibits a major political party from placing on the presidential nomination primary ballot… a candidate who is ineligible to hold office.”

The court added however that it could consider the general election claim at a later date if Trump indeed ends up winning the Republican presidential nomination and another petition is filed.

The case is likely to end up before the US Supreme Court, where conservatives hold a 6-3 majority.

77-year-old Trump, who was the 45th United States President and served between 2017 and 2021, is seeking to return to the White House during the next American presidential election.