On Thursday, Alabama Secretary of State Wes Allen joined an amicus brief being filed with the U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) in the Trump v. Anderson case to determine if the Colorado Supreme Court erred in ordering former President Donald Trump be from the 2024 presidential primary ballot.
Ten secretaries of state from across the nation signed the brief.
"I put my hand on the Bible and took an oath to support the Constitution of the United States," Allen said. "The brief argues in defense of that important document. The document upon which our republic is rooted."
An amicus brief is not filed on behalf of any party in the case but is, instead, a document filed as a "friend of the court." It encourages the Justices to consider arguments that either party may not present in the matter.
"The actions taken in Colorado and Maine are not based in the Constitution. Section three of the 14th Amendment does not provide an affirmative obligation to Secretaries of State to disqualify a candidate for President of the United States based on that section," Allen explained. "Furthermore, as Secretaries of State, we do not have the jurisdiction to adjudicate the qualifications of a Presidential candidate under section three. This brief notifies the Supreme Court of those facts."
The Supreme Court is expected to rule on the case within the coming weeks.
"Both the United States Constitution and the Supreme Court of Alabama indicate that to remove a Presidential candidate is not within the power of my office," Allen said. "My role in this matter is clearly defined, and I believe it is important for the United States Supreme Court to be as aware of that as I am."
In related news on Thursday, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall also submitted an amicus brief urging the U.S. Supreme Court to reverse a decision from Colorado that kept former President Donald Trump off the ballot for that state's presidential primary elections.
"The activism of the Colorado Supreme Court could disenfranchise millions of voters in violation of the Constitution," Marshall said. "I am confident that the U.S. Supreme Court will understand the gravity of this moment and will swiftly reverse this decision. We need the voting public to believe, once again, in the integrity of our electoral process."
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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