Trump's Lawyers File Quick Appeal of Illinois Ruling

UPDATE Feb 29, 2024 2:46 PM CST

An Illinois judge who decided Wednesday that Donald Trump's name shouldn't be on the state's Republican primary ballot put her ruling on hold until Friday to give the former president a chance to appeal it. He didn't need that long. Late Wednesday night, minutes before midnight, Trump's lawyers asked the Illinois Appellate Court to overturn the ruling, per the AP. They also want the court to keep the order frozen in place until the issue is resolved for good by a higher court, CBS News reports—in a filing that dropped the name of the US Supreme Court.

Feb 29, 2024 12:00 AM CST

Words like "unexpected" and "surprise" are being used to describe an Illinois ruling Wednesday removing Donald Trump from the state's primary ballot. The judge who issued the decision stayed the ruling until Friday, meaning the former president can—and is expected to—appeal, CNN and CBS News report. Cook County Circuit Judge Tracie Porter cited the Colorado Supreme Court ruling that removed Trump from that state's primary ballot over his role in the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol. The 14th amendment disqualifies insurrectionists from holding public office, and Porter said the Colorado decision's "rationale" was "compelling."

But that ruling is pending before the US Supreme Court, which is expected to rule in Trump's favor. Maine has also booted Trump from its primary ballot, but that decision was also paused pending the SCOTUS review of the Colorado case. Several other states have similar cases in the works. Says a Trump campaign spokesperson on the Illinois decision, "This is an unconstitutional ruling that we will quickly appeal." SCOTUS is also hearing arguments in April on whether Trump should be granted presidential immunity from prosecution. The Illinois primary will be held March 19; Colorado's and Maine's are set for Super Tuesday on March 5. (More Donald Trump stories.)