Photo: Xinhua/Jeenah Moon
Mark Brewer, who represents four plaintiffs in the case and a former Democratic Party chairman in Michigan, said his clients would revisit the issue if Trump wins the Republican nomination.
CHICAGO, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- The Supreme Court of the U.S. state of Michigan on Wednesday rejected an appeal to remove former U.S. President Donald Trump from the ballot for the 2024 primary election under the 14th Amendment's sedition clause.
The Michigan Supreme Court said in a brief order that the justices "are not persuaded that the issues presented should be reviewed by this court."
This decision contrasts with a December 19 ruling by the Colorado Supreme Court that removed the former president from the ballot.
A lower court in Michigan initially dismissed the case, the Court of Appeals affirmed that decision, and the Supreme Court upheld the decisions of both lower courts.
Trump welcomed the order in a statement, saying that "the Michigan Supreme Court has soundly and rightly rejected the Democrats' desperate attempt to knock the leading candidate for the 2024 presidential election, me, off the ballot in the great state of Michigan."
Mark Brewer, who represents four plaintiffs and the former chairman of the Michigan Democratic Party in the case, said his clients would revisit the issue if Trump wins the Republican nomination.
Michigan's presidential primary will be held on February 27.
A liberal watchdog group has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Michigan voters who wanted Trump off the ballot based on his efforts to overturn the 2020 election results and his actions related to the Jan. 6, 2021, U.S. Capitol riot.
Similar challenges have been filed in many U.S. states across the country, though many have already been rejected.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment disqualifies from holding federal office anyone who has previously taken an oath to uphold the U.S. Constitution but has "engaged in rebellion or sedition" against it, although this can be removed by a two-thirds vote in the House of Representatives and Senate.
Xinhua/JaV