A man was arrested on Tuesday morning after storming the Colorado Supreme Court and opening fire, according to a statement from the state police on Tuesday, just two weeks after the court’s significant decision to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the election in the state, a controversial ruling likely to reach the U.S. Supreme Court.
Key Facts
There were no injuries or fatalities in the shooting incident, according to the Colorado State Patrol, after an armed assailant broke into the Ralph Carr Justice Center in Denver around 1:15 AM local time by firing through a window.
The suspect, whose name was not immediately released, then encountered an unarmed security guard from the Colorado State Patrol and held him at gunpoint, seizing the guard’s keys and entering other areas of the building.
The suspect then opened fire, causing “significant and extensive damage,” according to the police department, before calling the police around 3 AM and surrendering.
The investigation into the incident is still ongoing by the Denver Police Department.
Main Background
This shooting is the latest example of violence and intimidation against the Colorado Supreme Court and its justices following the court’s 4-3 vote last month to bar Trump from running in the election under the 14th Amendment, which prohibits individuals who have taken an oath of office from holding public office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion.
Last week, the Denver Police Department reported that it is investigating a series of threats directed at the judges, although one report at a judge’s home appeared to be “fake,” according to Colorado Public Radio.
What to Watch For
Trump strongly opposes the ruling in Colorado – one of the few states challenged regarding Trump’s ballot status for the 2024 election – while his former legal team has vowed to appeal the decision. Additionally, Democratic Secretary of State in Maine, Shenna Bellows, decided last week to exclude Trump from the primary election, citing the 14th Amendment, although this decision has been stayed pending an expected appeal. The Supreme Court has not yet announced whether it will hear the case from Colorado.
Additional Information
Several courts in other states have ruled to allow Trump to remain on the ballot for the 2024 primary, including Michigan, where a state judge ruled in November that Trump followed state law in entering the race, as well as Florida, where a district judge dismissed a lawsuit based on the 14th Amendment, ruling that a group of voters and the attorney who filed the suit had no legal standing. In Minnesota, the state Supreme Court rejected a challenge to Trump’s candidacy, finding that there was no state law preventing Trump from appearing on the primary ballot, while California’s Democratic Secretary of State Shirley Weber decided last week that Trump could remain on the ballot. Cases are still pending in 14 other states, including Alaska, Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Oregon, South Carolina, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
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