A retired judge in Illinois has recommended that former President Donald Trump be removed from the state’s primary ballot. The judge, Clark Erickson, argued that Trump’s involvement in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol amounts to insurrection. The Illinois State Board of Elections will be considering this recommendation on Tuesday.
Similar efforts to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot have been made in other states, including Colorado where the Supreme Court is set to hear arguments next month. This landmark case will examine whether individuals who have engaged in insurrection are barred from holding public office under the 14th Amendment.
Erickson’s 21-page recommendation highlights a “preponderance of evidence” that supports the claim that Trump participated in insurrection. The decision ultimately rests with the courts, and it will be intriguing to see how this unfolds in the coming days.
The Challenge of Removing Trump’s Name from the March 19 Primary Ballot
In a recent development, the election board faces a challenging task. According to a retired Republican judge, engaging in the complex constitutional analysis required to remove Trump’s name from the primary ballot before March 19th is simply not feasible. Comparing the situation to scheduling a two-minute round between heavyweight boxers in a telephone booth, the judge emphasizes the expedited nature of the election board hearing.
However, despite the judge’s position, he still recommends removing Trump’s name from the Illinois primary ballot. This recommendation has received significant praise from Free Speech for People, who are leading the Illinois ballot effort. They argue that although they expect the board and Illinois courts to ultimately support Judge Erickson’s analysis regarding Trump’s disqualification from office, they respectfully point out that Illinois law allows the board to make the final decision on the ballot.
The election board itself is evenly divided between four Democrats and four Republicans, adding further complexity to the situation. As of now, there has been no response from Trump’s campaign regarding this matter.
