**WASHINGTON** - The Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump can appear on the ballot in Colorado for the 2024 presidential primary. The court's decision comes after months of debate over whether Trump's actions on January 6, 2021, violated the "insurrectionist clause" of the 14th Amendment.

**Court's Reasoning**

The unanimous opinion, written by an unsigned majority of the court, held that states do not have the authority to remove federal candidates from the ballot for allegedly violating the 14th Amendment's Section 3. This provision prohibits those who have sworn an oath to support the Constitution and later engage in insurrection from holding public office.

The court ruled that Congress, not individual states, has the power to enforce Section 3 against federal candidates. This decision applies to all federal candidates, not just presidential candidates. States retain the power to bar individuals from running for state office under Section 3.

**Court's Avoidance of "Insurrection" Analysis**

notably, the Supreme Court's decision did not address whether Trump's actions on January 6 constituted an insurrection. The Colorado Supreme Court had previously ruled that Trump's remarks and actions qualified as an insurrection, but the Supreme Court avoided making such a determination.

**Reaction to Decision**

Trump hailed the decision as a "Big win for America," while the liberal watchdog group that brought the case expressed disappointment. The ruling leaves the door open for similar cases in other states, but it limits the ability of states to unilaterally remove federal candidates from the ballot based on alleged violations of Section 3.

**Criminal Charges and Broader Implications**

It is important to note that the Supreme Court's decision only addresses whether Trump can be removed from the ballot in Colorado and does not affect the four ongoing criminal cases he is facing, including the federal election subversion case related to his actions on January 6.

The ruling also has implications for the upcoming election, as Trump is currently the frontrunner for the GOP nomination. However, it remains to be seen how the ongoing criminal cases and the findings of the House Select Committee on the January 6 Attack will impact his campaign.