In a groundbreaking decision, the Colorado Supreme Court has declared that former President Donald Trump's candidacy in the state's primary election next year is prohibited on constitutional grounds. The ruling cites Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment of the United States Constitution as the basis for disqualifying Trump from holding the office of President. The court's decision came as a result of a lawsuit that focused on a little-known provision in the 14th Amendment.

According to the ruling, it would be a violation of the Election Code for the Colorado Secretary of State to list Trump as a candidate on the presidential primary ballot. The court, however, has chosen to put the decision on hold until January 4 to allow for further appeals.

This first-of-its-kind ruling has sparked a significant debate over whether a President can be subject to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The provision states that no person who has previously taken an oath as an officer of the United States and has engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the country shall hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, nor give aid or comfort to its enemies.

While a lower court previously ruled that Trump had engaged in insurrection by inciting a riot on January 6, 2021, it held that presidents are not subject to Section 3 of the 14th Amendment because they are not considered officers of the United States. However, the state Supreme Court disagreed and reversed this ruling, stating that the President is indeed an officer of the country.

While Colorado's ruling is groundbreaking, similar challenges to ban Trump from the ballot in other states such as Arizona, Michigan, and Minnesota have been unsuccessful. Just yesterday, the plaintiffs challenging Trump's eligibility in Michigan filed an appeal to the state's high court.

Trump, who has dismissed the efforts to prohibit him from running as "nonsense" and "election interference," is expected to appeal the Colorado Supreme Court's decision to the U.S. Supreme Court. The response from the nation's highest court, which has faced numerous politically charged cases in recent years, remains to be seen.

The ruling in Colorado sets a precedent and raises crucial questions about the eligibility of former Presidents to participate in future elections. As the legal battle continues, all eyes are now on whether the U.S. Supreme Court will weigh in on this contentious issue that could have far-reaching implications for the nation's electoral process.