In a dramatic turn of events, the Colorado secretary of state, Jena Griswold, has announced that former President Donald Trump will be included on the 2024 Colorado primary ballot, despite a recent decision by the state Supreme Court to remove him. The decision comes after the Colorado GOP filed an appeal with the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging the state court's ruling.

Griswold made the announcement following the appeal, stating that Trump's inclusion on the primary ballot will be upheld unless the U.S. Supreme Court affirms the lower court's ruling or declines to take up the case. The secretary of state defended her decision, saying, "Donald Trump engaged in insurrection and was disqualified under the Constitution from the Colorado Ballot."

This development sets the stage for an unprecedented situation for the U.S. Supreme Court, as conflicting rulings from Colorado and Michigan have placed the matter in the hands of the highest court in the land. The Colorado Supreme Court has temporarily stayed its ruling until January 4th, allowing time for the appeal to be heard.

The conflicting rulings in Colorado and Michigan are likely to compel the U.S. Supreme Court to take up the case, which will have far-reaching implications for the rest of the country. With Super Tuesday, the crucial day in the primary race, set for March 5th, the Supreme Court will have to reach a decision before then.

The upcoming timeline also complicates matters. The deadline for 2024 primary ballots to be sent out to military voters is January 20th, with the first day of primary voting taking place on February 26th. It remains unclear what will happen to any released ballots if the U.S. Supreme Court declines the appeal or fails to take up the case after they have been sent out.

The Colorado GOP has been reached out to for comment, but has not yet responded. Earlier this month, the Colorado Supreme Court overturned a lower court ruling that allowed Trump to appear on the primary ballot as a presidential candidate. The court ruled that Trump is ineligible to appear on the ballot based on the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.

This decision has sparked a heated debate regarding the First Amendment rights of political parties to select the candidates of their choice and the rights of the people to choose their elected officials. Attorneys for the state Republican party have criticized the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling, describing it as an "unprecedented disregard" for these constitutional rights.

As the legal battle surrounding Trump's placement on the primary ballot intensifies, all eyes are now on the U.S. Supreme Court to provide a definitive resolution. The outcome of this case will undoubtedly shape the landscape of future elections and set a precedent for how candidate eligibility is determined.