Illinois judge keeps Trump on ballot until appeals court decides on his removal

An Illinois judge on Thursday paused her own order removing former President Donald Trump from the state's ballot, keeping him on it pending an appeals court decision on the matter.

Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter on Wednesday determined that Trump was ineligible to appear on the ballot under the 14th Amendment's "insurrection" clause due to his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. She briefly paused the order the next day day to allow for Trump's appeal, which he filed on Thursday.

Porter's Thursday pause will remain in effect until the court decides on Trump's appeal, The Hill reported. Her decision made Illinois the third state to attempt to disqualify Trump under the 14th Amendment, after Colorado and Maine.

The Supreme Court heard oral arguments in the Colorado case earlier this month while his Maine disqualification is on hold pending the high court's decision in the Colorado case.

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