US Supreme Court to consider today whether Trump should be prevented from running for president

The US Supreme Court will enter unexplored legal waters Thursday, while considering whether Donald Trump should be prevented from running for president.

Judges will weigh whether Colorado can remove Trump from the ballot sheet after finding out he was involved in the US Capitol riots.

Their decision will also determine whether similar bids to keep Trump out of voting in other states are valid.

He is the main candidate to be the candidate of the Republican party.

If justice does not rule against Trump, it seems to challenge Democrat President Joe Biden in November.

It is the most consistent case to arrive in court since it banned the recount of votes in Florida in 2000, handing over the White House to Republican George W Bush instead of the Democrat Al Gore.

The challenge has accelerated by the US Supreme Court and has pressure on a decision before 5 March, when voters in 15 states including Colorado cast their ballots in the republican preliminary elections.

Trump's name so far remains on the ballot sheet in Colorado, pending the court's decision. Maine has also ruled out Mr. Trump from his vote, a pending decision, also, while judges consider the issue.

The legal challenge depends on a constitutional amendment to the Civil War era banning anyone who has been “committed to uprising or rebellion” to hold federal office.

The ban has never been used to disqualified a candidate for president.

In the December decision, the Colorado Supreme Court wrote that it was aware of the size of its decision.

“We are also aware of our solemn duty to implement the law, without fear or favour, and without being influenced by the public's response to decisions that the law orders us to take”, judges write.

On the other hand, Mr. Trump's lawyers argued that Colorado's decision was “unconstitutionally deprived of millions of voters in Colorado” and could be used to abolish the further right of millions of others across the country.

His argument is backed by the top legal officials of the 27 states, who submitted a brief statement saying Colorado's decision would sow <x0Mackaos broad”.

“More clearly, it casts confusion into an election cycle that is only weeks away,” wrote prosecutors general. Furthermore, it worries the respective roles of Congress, States and courts. ”

The courts in Minnesota and Michigan have dismissed parallel efforts to remove Trump from their ballots, while other cases, including Oregon, are pending.

The decision by the US Supreme Court on this issue is expected to affect the way most judges interpret the 14th Amendment provision, including the clause of the uprising.

The former president's lawyers have given several reasons in court why he should not be removed from the ballot sheet.

In one, they argue that the 14th Amendment does not apply to presidential candidates.

In another, they claim that Trump's behaviour at the time of the US Capitol riots on January 6, 2021 was not a riot.

The case comes out loud in front of a Supreme Court, which is already facing the lowest levels of all time in terms of public approval.

Despite the nine judges' decision, three of whom were appointed by Trump é would likely result in extremely divisive.

The Supreme Court has a history of finding ways to break free from politically charged legal cases by adhering to narrower legal grounds, which may result in the case here.

Trump, who is in the middle of his third presidential campaign, is not expected to attend Thursday's hearing.

He is facing a series of legal challenges. Last month, he was ordered to pay $83.3 million (65 million) for the slander of columnist E Jean Carroll, who was found to have been sexually assaulted in a special case.

The Supreme Court itself, which holds a conservative majority of 6-3 can soon be asked to consider another case involving Mr. Trump.

Earlier this week, a federal appeals court in Washington DC rejected his claims of presidential immunity, ruling that he could be prosecuted on charges of plotting to overthrow the 2020 elections.

Trump has until Monday to ask the Supreme Court to stop this decision.