Ruling Orders Removal of Trump from GOP Ballot
A Cook County judge found the election board’s previous decision ‘clearly erroneous.’
By PETER HANCOCK
Capitol News Illinois
phancock@capitolnewsillinois.com
In a significant decision, Judge Tracie Porter ruled to remove former President Donald Trump‘s name from the March 19 Republican primary ballot. However, the order is stayed until Friday to allow time for an appeal to the Illinois Supreme Court.
Judge’s Decision Asserts Misjudgment by Election Board
Judge Porter stated that the Illinois State Board of Elections erred when it dismissed a petition by five Illinois voters objecting to Trump’s candidacy. These objectors contended that Trump’s involvement in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault constituted an “insurrection,” disqualifying him under the 14th Amendment.
Lead attorney Caryn Lederer emphasized the significance of the decision in denouncing Trump’s role in the Capitol attack, highlighting the importance of upholding the U.S. Constitution.
Legal Battle Unfolds Amid Appeal
Despite the ruling, Trump’s campaign plans to appeal, citing the decision as unconstitutional. The court allows Trump’s name to remain on the ballot during the ongoing legal process.
Simultaneously, the U.S. Supreme Court is deliberating a similar challenge to Trump’s candidacy in Colorado, further intensifying the legal battle.
Background of the Dispute
Initially, an administrative hearing officer recommended dismissing the objection to Trump’s candidacy. The Board of Elections later unanimously voted to dismiss the objection, stating the objectors failed to prove Trump knowingly provided false information on his candidacy statement.
Following this, the objectors sought a judicial review in Cook County Circuit Court, leading to Judge Porter’s recent decision.
Judge Porter’s Ruling
In her order, Porter highlighted Trump’s delayed filing of the candidacy statement in 2024, subsequent to the Colorado Supreme Court’s ruling on his disqualification for engaging in an insurrection.
Porter emphasized the election board’s acknowledgment of Trump’s potential involvement in an insurrection, concluding that the decision to keep Trump on the ballot was fundamentally flawed.
Capitol News Illinois is a nonprofit, nonpartisan news service covering state government. It is distributed to hundreds of newspapers, radio and TV stations statewide. It is primarily funded by the Illinois Press Foundation and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation, with significant contributions from the Illinois Broadcasters Foundation and Southern Illinois Editorial Association.
Read More of this Story at wmbdradio.com – 2024-02-29 10:47:47
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