Illinois Judge Puts Ruling to Disqualify Trump from Ballot on Hold

An Illinois judge has put on hold her ruling that ordered the removal of former President Donald Trump from the Illinois March 19 Republican presidential primary ballot. This decision comes as a result of his legal team's appeal, delaying the outcome until Friday, as confirmed by Cook County Judge Tracie Porter. The ruling was stalled just hours after finding Trump should be disqualified from candidacy under the Constitutional ban on "insurrectionists." Porter immediately stayed the decision in anticipation of Trump's appeal.

Legal Battle Continues

The judge's ruling overturned a January decision by the Illinois Board of Elections to keep Trump's name on the primary ballot, which was in response to a group of Illinois voters accusing the former president of engaging in insurrection. The group argued that Trump's name should be removed from the ballot, stating that any votes cast for him would be suppressed. This case is part of a series of lawsuits seeking to remove Trump from primary ballots in multiple states, all based on the 14th Amendment's rarely used clause prohibiting those who "engaged in insurrection" from holding office.

Reaction to the Ruling

In response to the ruling, Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung criticized the decision, stating that it was unconstitutional and would be quickly appealed. It is important to note that Trump hasn't been charged with inciting an insurrection but faces election interference charges in Washington D.C. and Georgia.