The Colorado judge overseeing the groundbreaking case aiming to prevent Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 presidential election ballot has taken steps to protect the safety of all involved parties, including herself and her staff. Reports indicate that District Judge Sarah B. Wallace has issued a protective order amid concerns about potential threats and intimidation during the legal proceedings.
Judge Sarah B. Wallace emphasized the necessity of the protective order to safeguard everyone participating in the case. She acknowledged the heightened concerns, saying, “I 100% understand everybody’s concerns for the parties, the lawyers, and frankly myself and my staff based on what we’ve seen in other cases.”
This Colorado case, a first of its kind, was brought forward by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, a well-funded liberal group. Their objective is to disqualify Trump from running in the 2024 presidential election based on a Civil War-era clause within the 14th Amendment.
This clause prohibits individuals who have sworn an oath to the Constitution and subsequently “engaged in insurrection” against it from seeking office. The argument centers on the attack on the state Capitol, which aimed to disrupt the certification of the 2020 presidential election.
During a court session, the plaintiffs’ attorney, Sean Grimsley, proposed the protective order. Grimsley cited the filing of a gag order against Trump by Jack Smith and highlighted Trump’s social media activity, which he believed could influence public opinion. Grimsley noted, “At least one of the parties has a tendency to tweet—or Truth Social,” referring to Trump’s social media platform where he communicates many of his statements, “about witnesses and the courts.”
On the other hand, Trump’s representative, Scott Gessler, opposed the protective order, arguing that existing laws already prohibit threats and intimidation. He also noted that the case had become a focal point in the ongoing political debate, underscoring the robust political discourse surrounding it.
A hearing date has been scheduled for October 30 to address Trump’s potential removal from the 2024 presidential election ballot, presided over by Judge Wallace. Her decision is timed in consideration of the state’s January 5 deadline for setting the 2024 presidential primary ballot. This timing allows the Colorado Supreme Court and potentially the U.S. Supreme Court ample opportunity to review the decision