Maine’s top court has declined to weigh in on whether former President Donald Trump can stay on the state’s ballot, keeping intact a judge’s decision that the U.S. Supreme Court must first rule on a similar case in Colorado. Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows concluded that Trump didn’t meet ballot qualifications under the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution, but a judge put that decision on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision on the similar case in Colorado.
Quick Read
Key Points of Maine’s Court Decision on Trump’s Ballot Eligibility:
- Maine Court’s Refusal to Rule: Maine’s top court declined to make a decision on former President Donald Trump’s eligibility for the state’s ballot, deferring to a pending U.S. Supreme Court case in Colorado.
- Shenna Bellows’ Initial Decision: Maine’s Democratic Secretary of State, Shenna Bellows, initially ruled Trump ineligible under the 14th Amendment’s insurrection clause but was ordered to wait for the Supreme Court’s decision.
- Unanimous Court Decision: The Maine Supreme Judicial Court unanimously dismissed Bellows’ appeal, emphasizing the importance of awaiting the Supreme Court’s ruling to avoid voter confusion.
- Impact of the 14th Amendment: The case revolves around the 14th Amendment’s Section 3, which bars individuals who engaged in insurrection from holding office. This clause has been invoked in relation to Trump’s actions surrounding the 2020 election and the Capitol riot.
- Colorado Case as Precedent: The Colorado Supreme Court reached a similar conclusion to Bellows, banning Trump from the ballot, making the upcoming U.S. Supreme Court decision crucial.
- Time Pressure: The timing is critical as Maine’s primary approaches on March 5, and the Supreme Court is set to hear the Colorado case on February 8. Maine has already started mailing overseas ballots.
- Legal Debate: Legal scholars are divided on whether the 14th Amendment clause applies to Trump due to his actions during the 2020 election.
- Trump’s Allegations of Bias: Trump argues that Bellows, elected by a Democratic-controlled Legislature, was biased against him and her actions disenfranchise Maine voters.
- Bellows’ Adherence to State Law: Bellows stated her decision was in accordance with state law following challenges to Trump’s eligibility and pledged to follow the court’s final ruling.
The Associated Press has the story:
Maine’s top court dismisses an appeal of a judge’s decision on Trump’s ballot status
Newslooks- PORTLAND, Maine (AP) —
Maine’s top court has declined to weigh in on whether former President Donald Trump can stay on the state’s ballot, keeping intact a judge’s decision that the U.S. Supreme Court must first rule on a similar case in Colorado.
Democratic Secretary of State Shenna Bellows concluded that Trump didn’t meet ballot qualifications under the insurrection clause in the U.S. Constitution, but a judge put that decision on hold pending the Supreme Court’s decision on the similar case in Colorado.
In a unanimous decision on Wednesday, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court dismissed Bellows’ appeal of the order requiring her to await the U.S. Supreme Court decision before withdrawing, modifying or upholding her decision to keep Trump off the primary ballot on Super Tuesday.
“The Secretary of State suggests that there is irreparable harm because a delay in certainty about whether Trump’s name should appear on the primary ballot will result in voter confusion. This uncertainty is, however, precisely what guides our decision not to undertake immediate appellate review in this particular case,” the court said.
Bellows’ decision in December that Trump was ineligible made her the first election official to ban the Republican front-runner from the ballot under the 14th Amendment. In Colorado, the state supreme court reached the same conclusion.
The timelines are tight as Maine’s March 5 primary approaches. The U.S. Supreme Court is hearing arguments on the Colorado case on Feb. 8, and Maine has already begun mailing overseas ballots.
The nation’s highest court has never ruled on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, which prohibits those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office. Some legal scholars say the post-Civil War clause applies to Trump for his role in trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election and encouraging his backers to storm the U.S. Capitol after he lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Trump contends Bellows should have recused herself, and that she was biased against him. Trump said her actions disenfranchised voters in Maine, and were part of a broader effort to keep him off the ballot.
Bellows, who was elected by the Democratic-controlled Legislature, said she was bound by state law to make a determination after several residents challenged Trump’s right to be on the primary ballot. She put her decision on Trump’s ballot eligibility on hold pending judicial proceedings, and vowed that she would abide by a court’s ultimate ruling.
