Maine's Top Trial Court, has Deferred a Ruling on Upholding or Overturn, the Maine Secretary-of-State's Decision that Trump is Disqualified from Appearing on the March, 5th, 2024 Primary Ballot under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, also known as the "Insurrection Clause."
Justice Michaela Murphy in Kennebec County Superior Court wrote in a 17-page Opinion on Wednesday, that She wanted to wait until a Separate Case before the U.S. Supreme Court is Decided.
Murphy Denied the Trump Team's Appeal of Secretary of State Shenna Bellows' December, 2023, Decision and His Motion to Stay the Court's Proceedings, but also Stayed Bellows' Ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court set Oral Arguments on these State Cases on Feb. 8th.
Murphy ordered Bellows (D) to make a New Ruling on Trump's QAualifications within 30 days, after the U.S. Supreme Court's Decision on the 14th Amendment Challenge out of Colorado. Bellows must then either Confirm, Modify, or Withdraw, Her Prior Decision, Murphy decided.
Bellows on Dec. 28 ruled Trump Ineligible to be on the State's 2024 Primary Ballot, because of Actions surrounding the Violence at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, finding that He Violated Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Bellows' Order upheld Challenges from: Former Portland Mayor Ethan Strimling, Former State Senator Kim Rosen (R), Tom Saviello, former State Senator a Republican turned independent, and Resident Mary-Anne Royal, all of whom argued that Trump was Ineligible under Section 3.
"Ultimately, we’re happy with the Court's decision to leave the Secretary’s ruling intact: that Trump is an insurrectionist and that the 14th amendment applies. We’ll decide next steps soon," Strimling said in a Statement.
Bellows decided to "suspend the effect" of Her Decision until the Maine Courts Ruled on Trump's Appeal. Trump's Legal Team then asked the Maine Court to Hold-Off on weighing in on Bellows' Ruling until after the Colorado Case was Decided by the U.S. Supreme Court.
Trump's Team contended the Secretary-of-State was a "biased decisionmaker who should have recused herself and otherwise failed to provide lawful due process" and had "no legal authority" to consider the Challenge.
The Extensive Legal Maneuvering, underscores the Gravity of the Issue now before the Courts: Whether Trump's Conduct related to Jan. 6, amid His efforts to Overturn His 2020 Election Loss, Disqualifies Him from Running for President again, for One more Term.
He has Faced a Number of such Challenges, many of which have Failed, brought by Voters, who didn't have Standing, but Successful in Colorado and Maine, because of who brought the Case.
In Her Ruling last month, Bellow said She was "mindful" No Secretary-of-State had "deprived a presidential candidate of ballot access based on Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment" but Balanced that with what She said was the Nature of Trump's Actions. Under Her State Law, Her Position has the Power to bring the Case.
"I am also mindful, however, that no presidential candidate has ever before engaged in insurrection."
NYC Wins When Everyone Can Vote! Michael H. Drucker
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