Colorado judge sides with Trump in 14th Amendment case, keeping him on the ballot

A Colorado judge on Friday ruled in favor of former President Donald Trump in a case that had sought to keep him off the state's ballot for allegedly inciting an "insurrection" against the United States.

Denver Judge Sarah B. Wallace issued the ruling, asserting that Trump was not ineligible for office under the 14th Amendment, according to the New York Times. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, on behalf of a group of six Colorado voters, brought the suit against the Colorado secretary of state and Trump. They are expected to appeal.

The case saw former Trump officials such as Kash Patel testify about the leadup to and events of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Other witnesses included Indiana University Law Professor Gerard Magliocca, who served as an expert witness for the prosecution about "insurrection" clause of the 14th Amendment. Chapman University Sociology Professor Peter Simi further spoke to Trump's alleged calls for violence.

Trump's team previously asked Wallace for a directed verdict in a move to end the trial early, which she denied. 

The ruling is the latest in a string of wins for the former president on the matter of his eligibility to hold public office. Earlier this month, the Minnesota Supreme Court rejected a similar effort to keep Trump off of the Republican primary ballot while a Michigan court has rejected a similar effort. Activist group Free Speech for People has since asked the Wolverine State's top bench to intervene.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.