The U.S. Supreme Court has put an end to a bid to keep former President Donald Trump off the presidential ballot in Arizona. They declined to hear an appeal from a man who has been fighting in courts across many states to disqualify the former president over the events of January 6th.
The Supreme Court has rejected a request from John Castro, a Republican candidate for the 2024 U.S. presidential race. Castro had been battling in court to prevent President Trump from appearing on the Arizona ballot, among other places. This decision was announced in the order list dated April 22nd.
The Supreme Court’s refusal to review Mr. Castro’s petition essentially confirms a ruling from December 2023 by a lower court. That ruling dismissed Mr. Castro’s argument that President Trump should be prevented from appearing on the ballot due to his alleged support for the January 6, 2021, insurrectionists.
In his legal action, Mr. Castro submitted a motion in September 2023 requesting a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction. This motion aimed to compel Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to prevent President Trump from being listed on the state’s presidential ballot, citing Section 3 of the 14th Amendment.
Mr. Castro’s unsuccessful lawsuit in Arizona was just one of 27 cases he initiated against the former president, all based on the same arguments.
In a 12-page opinion and order, U.S. District Judge Douglas Rayes stated that Mr. Castro’s lawsuit “must be dismissed for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction because Castro lacks standing to bring his claim.”
Mr. Castro took his case to the Supreme Court, but on April 22, the courtput the final nail in the coffin of his lawsuit by denying review.
Although the Supreme Court did not offer an explanation for turning down Mr. Castro’s appeal, it’s probable that the decision is connected to a ruling made on March 4.
In that ruling, the Supreme Court stated that only Congress, not individual states, has the authority to remove President Trump from the ballot. This decision overturned a ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court, which had disqualified him under the 14th Amendment.
In March, following the Supreme Court’s decision to prevent individual states from barring him from the ballot, President Trump responded by declaring it a “big win for America.”
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