Maine Supreme Court postpones ruling on Donald Trump's appeal

(Patria) - A judge in the state of Maine has postponed a decision on whether Donald Trump can appear on the state's presidential election ballot until the Supreme Court rules on a similar case in Colorado.

Trump has been removed from the ballots in both states, with officials citing the insurrection clause of the 14th Amendment, the BBC reported. However, the US Supreme Court announced earlier this month that it would hear his appeal against the ban.

Justices in Washington will hear arguments in the case on February 8. The 14th Amendment disqualifies anyone who has "engaged in insurrection" from holding federal office, but the former president's lawyers argue that the provision does not apply to the presidency.

Judge Michaela Murphy of the Maine Superior Court wrote in a filing on Wednesday that Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' decision to remove Trump from the primary ballot should be stayed pending clarification of the states' roles at the federal level.

She writes that "unless the Supreme Court determines before that date that President Trump is disqualified from serving as president, eligible Maine voters who wish to cast a vote for him in the primary election will be able to do so, and the winner will be determined by ranked-choice voting." Maine's primary election will be held on March 5, also known as Super Tuesday.

About sixteen states and territories will vote on that day. Announcing her decision to remove Trump from the ballots last month, Bellows called the events of January 6, 2021, "unprecedented and tragic." They were an attack not only on the Capitol and government officials but also an attack on the rule of law, she wrote.

"The evidence here shows that they occurred at the direction, with the knowledge and support of the outgoing President. The US Constitution does not tolerate an attack on the foundations of our government, and Section 336 requires me to act."

Trump's lawyers have sought to argue that the measures do not apply to the presidency and have disputed that he engaged in insurrection. They have also sought to argue that Bellows, a progressive Democrat, is biased against the former president.