In a unanimous 9-0 decision, the United States Supreme Court ruled today that only Congress has the authority to restrict ballot access for a candidate accused of violating Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which bars “insurrectionists” from office.
The ruling overturned a decision by the Colorado Supreme Court that had barred Presidential candidate Donald Trump from appearing on the ballot in that state.
The ruling also stops similar cases in other jurisdictions, including Cook County, where a judge recently held that Trump should be banned from the ballot on 14th Amendment grounds.
The unanimity of the Justices is significant as it allays concerns some had about the Court’s objectivity when confronted with such a highly-charged partisan issue.
