Illinois judge rules Trump ineligible to appear on state primary ballot, over 'insurrection' issue

An Illinois judge Wednesday ordered leading 2024 GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump's removed from the state's primary ballot, citing the 14th Amendment's so-called "insurrection clause."

However, Illinois Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter also paused the order to allow Trump to appeal, CNN reported.

Similar rulings have been issued in Colorado and Maine, with both also on hold.

The efforts to remove Trump are based on the argument that his words and actions as president during the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot made him part of an insurrection.

The Colorado case is currently before the Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments earlier this month but has not yet issued a ruling on the matter.

In December 2023, the Colorado Supreme Court determined Trump was ineligible to appear on state election ballots because  those who engage in "insurrection" against the U.S. cannot hold public office.

Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellows followed the court's lead and issued her own determination that Trump was ineligible to appear on that state's ballot, which Trump has also challenged.

A judge in January deferred judgement in the matter until the Supreme Court ruled on the Colorado dispute, a decision the Maine Supreme Court upheld.

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