"Trump Disqualification Trial: Hearings Begin as Effort to Keep Him off Colorado's Ballot Moves Forward"

A trial is set to begin in Denver to determine whether the 14th Amendment's "insurrectionist ban" applies to former President Donald Trump, potentially blocking him from Colorado's presidential ballot in 2024. Six Republican and unaffiliated Colorado voters filed the lawsuit, arguing that Trump's role in the January 6 insurrection disqualifies him from serving as president again. The trial will last at least one week, and while the challengers have scored pretrial victories, it remains uncertain whether the ban will be enforced. The case raises key legal questions regarding the definition of "engaged" and "insurrection," the self-execution of the ban, and the power of Colorado's Secretary of State to exclude a candidate from the ballot based on federal constitutional considerations. The Supreme Court may ultimately weigh in on the matter.