The Michigan Supreme Court has ruled against an attempt to remove former President Donald Trump from the state’s 2024 Republican primary ballot. [Source]
In a succinct order, the court stated that it was “not persuaded that the questions presented should be reviewed by this Court.” This decision came after a lower court had earlier rejected the appeal to declare Trump ineligible under the 14th Amendment’s Insurrection Clause. [Source]
The plaintiffs in the case argued that Trump’s actions, particularly his efforts to challenge former Vice President Joe Biden’s victory culminating in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, constituted insurrection or rebellion against the U.S. Constitution, thereby disqualifying him from holding office. However, their attempts were met with resistance in Michigan’s highest court.
Reacting to the ruling, Trump, 77, took to Truth Social, expressing satisfaction with the Michigan justices’ decision. He described it as a strong and rightful rejection of what he termed a “Desperate Democrat attempt” to influence the 2024 Presidential Election. Trump emphasized that this attempt to “rig the Election” had failed nationwide, with Colorado being the only state to succumb to such a strategy.
The only dissenting voice in the seven-member Michigan Supreme Court was Justice Elizabeth Welch. She argued that the court should have issued a ruling on the merits of the petition rather than jurisdiction.
Welch agreed that Michigan’s Court of Appeals and Court of Claims were correct in ruling that the state’s secretary of state lacked authority to determine a presidential candidate’s eligibility. However, she suggested that the plaintiffs might renew their legal efforts concerning the Michigan general election later in 2024, should Trump become the Republican nominee or seek office as an independent candidate. [Source]
While the Michigan decision is clear for now, it does not preclude future challenges to Trump’s eligibility to appear on the general election ballot, should he secure the Republican nomination. The U.S. Supreme Court may eventually resolve this issue definitively. the broader legal battle continues.
Trump remains a dominant presence. According to the RealClearPolitics average, he is the frontrunner for the 2024 Republican nomination and is also leading in national polls against President Bide.
Lawsuits challenging Trump’s eligibility are pending in other states, including Texas, Nevada, and Wisconsin.