In a recent development, Maine's Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, has filed an appeal against a judge's ruling that halted her decision to remove former President Donald Trump from the state's ballot. The appeal comes as the U.S. Supreme Court is set to rule on a similar case in Colorado.

Last month, Bellows, a Democrat, determined that Trump did not meet the ballot qualifications under the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. She cited his alleged role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol as grounds for excluding him from the ballot. This made her the first election official to ban Trump from running under the 14th Amendment.

However, a state judge has now sent the case back to Bellows, instructing her to await the Supreme Court's decision before taking any action to withdraw, modify, or uphold her initial ruling.

In response to the judge's decision, Bellows filed a notice of appeal on Friday. While she welcomes guidance from the U.S. Supreme Court, she also seeks an expedited review from the Maine Supreme Judicial Court.

Expressing her concerns, Bellows stated, "I know both the constitutional and state authority questions are of grave concern to many. This appeal ensures that Maine's highest court has the opportunity to weigh in now, before ballots are counted, promoting trust in our free, safe, and secure elections." She also emphasized that she will abide by any decision issued by the courts, stating her commitment to the rule of law.

However, the timelines are tight, with the primary elections scheduled for March 5. The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on the Colorado case on February 8. This leaves limited time for Bellows to issue a new ruling on Trump's ballot status and for any additional appeals to be filed before Election Day.

Understandably, the situation raises concerns about overseas ballots, as they are set to be mailed on Saturday and Trump's name is included. If Trump were ultimately barred from the ballot, Bellows would have to inform local election officials not to count votes cast for him.

What adds further complexity to the situation is that the U.S. Supreme Court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which pertains to individuals who have engaged in insurrection being prohibited from holding office. Legal scholars argue that this clause could be applicable to Trump based on his alleged actions to overturn the 2020 presidential election and his calls for his supporters to storm the U.S. Capitol after losing to Democrat Joe Biden. Activists have been actively campaigning for election officials to bar Trump under this clause.

In response to Bellows' decision to remove Trump from the ballot, his campaign issued a statement strongly condemning it. They expressed their concerns about what they perceive as an "attempted theft of an election and the disenfranchisement of the American voter."

Meanwhile, Maine Republicans have continued to criticize Bellows, questioning her motives. Maine GOP Chair Joel Stetkis accused a coordinated national effort to secure the election for Joe Biden before a single vote is cast.

As the legal battle continues, all eyes will be on the forthcoming Supreme Court ruling in the Colorado case, which could have significant implications for Trump's ballot status and potentially reshape the interpretation of the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment.