In a groundbreaking decision, the Colorado Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump is not eligible to run for president in the state's primary election next year. Citing a constitutional insurrection clause, the court voted 4-3 in favor of disqualifying Trump based on his involvement in the US Capitol riot nearly three years ago.

The court's ruling specifically pertains to Colorado's primary election on March 5th, where Republican voters will select their preferred candidate for president. However, the decision could potentially impact the general election in Colorado scheduled for November.

This marks the first-ever use of Section 3 of the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution, which aims to prevent individuals who engaged in insurrection from returning to government roles. The amendment was ratified following the American Civil War to safeguard against secessionist activities.

Despite the ruling being limited to Colorado, Trump's campaign has expressed its intentions to appeal the decision to the US Supreme Court. They assert that the ruling is "completely flawed" and are challenging its validity.

The Colorado Supreme Court, in its ruling, acknowledged the gravity of the matter and emphasized its commitment to objectively applying the law without bias or influence from public opinion. However, one of the dissenting justices, Carlos Samour, argued that denying someone the right to hold public office without due process of law would be unconstitutional.

This decision overturns a prior ruling by a Colorado judge who determined that the disqualification did not extend to presidential candidates but found that Trump had indeed participated in an insurrection. Notably, attempts in other states like New Hampshire, Minnesota, and Michigan to remove Trump from the ballot have been unsuccessful.

The implementation of the ruling has been put on hold until January 4, 2024, which coincides with the deadline for printing Colorado's presidential primary ballots. If the US Supreme Court chooses to take up the case, the delay may be extended, and legal experts believe it is likely that the highest court in the land will indeed review the matter. With a conservative majority of 6 to 3, the Colorado ruling may face an uphill battle in the US Supreme Court.

Observers argue that the Supreme Court may be hesitant to uphold Trump's disqualification due to "institutional caution" and a desire to maintain a consistent national standard for presidential candidacy. They assert that determining national candidacy on a state-by-state basis could undermine the democratic process.

Furthermore, experts note that the Supreme Court has displayed wariness toward state courts in matters relating to elections since the contentious Bush v Gore case in 2000, where it intervened to halt a vote recount in Florida.

The Trump campaign and fellow Republicans have criticized the Colorado Supreme Court's ruling, accusing the justices of playing politics. Campaign spokesman Steven Cheung denounced the decision as "completely flawed" and pointed out that all the justices were appointed by Democratic governors, suggesting potential bias.

The Colorado Republican Party has threatened to withdraw from the state's primary process if the ruling stands, and one of Trump's primary rivals, Vivek Ramaswamy, pledged to remove his name from the ballot if Trump's disqualification is upheld.

President Joe Biden, when asked for his input on the matter, stated that it is ultimately up to the courts to determine Trump's eligibility but added that there is "no question" that his predecessor supported an insurrection.

Trump, who is currently considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, faced a significant defeat in Colorado during the previous presidential election. Nevertheless, if other competitive states were to follow suit and disqualify him, it could pose serious challenges to his White House bid.

Currently, Trump is also embroiled in four criminal cases, including federal and state cases in Georgia, relating to his attempts to overturn the 2020 election. While a ruling removing him from Colorado's ballot may ultimately be overturned, it could potentially strengthen his campaign as he presents himself as a victim of perceived political targeting.