MAINE, USA — Members of the U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments Thursday regarding whether former president Donald Trump qualifies to be on the state of Colorado's Republican primary ballot; a pending decision that would affect Maine.
Right now, Maine Secretary of State Shenna Bellow's ruling to disqualify Mr. Trump on hold until the Supreme Court makes its decision is now one step closer after today's discussion.
"Maine’s courts have been clear that we must await the U.S. Supreme Court’s ruling in the Colorado case, and I welcome that ruling," Bellows said in a statement to NEWS CENTER Maine. "I hope that it will answer the important Fourteenth Amendment questions for all the states.”
Representing Mr. Trump is lawyer Jonathan Mitchell, who in his arguments brought up concerns regarding the use of the term 'officer' in Section 3 of the 14th amendment, which bars those taken part in an insurrection from holding office.
Mitchell argued that Section 3 does not apply for Mr. Trump because as president, he did not serve as an officer—as stated in the section—but instead held office.
A second part to Mitchell's argument is that a disqualification is not a decision that belongs to individual states, but would require an act of Congress.
Leading the opposing argument is Colorado lawyer Jason Murray, who says Mitchell's stance is misinterpreting the language in the constitution and how it should be applied to a former president.
"Section 3 uses deliberately broad language to cover all positions of federal power requiring an oath to the constitution," Murray argued.
After listening in on both sides of the aisle, constitutional law expert and University of Maine School of Law's Vice Dean Dmitry Bam said he expects the justices to consider how their decision will affect other states, like Maine, as they deliberate.
"I think some of the other grounds, like does congress have to be involved, is the presidency an office, I think those are easier grounds for the court to decide this case on," Bam said.