DENVER, Colorado – The Colorado Republican Party has filed an appeal to the state’s Supreme Court decision deeming former President Donald Trump ineligible for the presidency. This move sets the stage for a potential showdown at the U.S. Supreme Court over the interpretation of a 155-year-old constitutional provision barring individuals who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office.

The appeal effectively extends the stay on the 4-3 ruling from Colorado’s highest court until January 4, the day before the state’s primary ballots deadline. The stay will also remain in effect until the U.S. Supreme Court completes its review or until the state’s decision is resolved through appeal.

The ruling was made after Trump’s involvement in the Capitol attack on January 6, 2021, aimed at preventing the certification of President Biden’s election victory. This marked the first time in history that the provision was invoked to block a presidential candidate’s campaign.

The Colorado Republican Party’s attorneys have criticized the ruling, contending that it fundamentally alters the course of American democracy by allowing any voter to sue to disqualify a political candidate. They argue that this could lead to distorted presidential elections and drag courts into political disputes over vague accusations of insurrection.

It is expected that the U.S. Supreme Court will ultimately hear the case, whether through Colorado GOP’s appeal or Trump’s own appeal. While Trump’s absence from the Colorado ballot may not significantly impact his campaign, it could pave the way for other states to potentially exclude him from their ballots.

To date, no court has sided with the numerous lawsuits seeking to disqualify Trump under the 14th Amendment, Section 3. However, the Colorado case is considered to have the highest chance of success due to the legal resources of the group that filed the lawsuit and the Democratic majority among the state high court justices.

Prominent conservative legal theorists have advocated for disqualifying Trump under Section 3, arguing that the plain meaning of the constitutional language prohibits him from running again. Trump has criticized the legal challenges, describing them as “election interference.”

The legal battle in Colorado and the looming potential Supreme Court intervention raise critical questions about the interpretation of the 14th Amendment and its implications for future presidential elections.