Illinois Judge bars Trump from State ballot in fresh ruling

WASHINGTON: A judge in Illinois, United States, on Wednesday, barred Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s Republican presidential primary ballot because of his role in the insurrection at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter sided with Illinois voters who argued that the former president should be disqualified from the state’s March 19 primary ballot and its November 5 general election ballot for violating the anti-insurrection clause of the US Constitution’s 14th Amendment, according to CBS News.
However, Porter delayed her ruling due to an expected Trump appeal.
The outcome of the Illinois case and similar challenges is expected to be decided by the US Supreme Court, which heard arguments related to Trump’s ballot eligibility on February 8.
Porter said she was staying her decision because she expected his appeal to Illinois’ appellate courts and a potential ruling from the US Supreme Court.
The advocacy group Free Speech For People, which spearheaded the Illinois disqualification effort, released a statement praising the ruling as a “historic victory”. –Agencies