The US Supreme Court says it will hear a historic case to determine whether Donald Trump can run for president.
The justices agreed to take up Mr Trump’s appeal against a decision by Colorado to remove him from the 2024 ballot in that state.
The case will be heard in February and the ruling will apply nationwide.
Lawsuits in a number of states are seeking to disqualify Mr Trump, arguing that he engaged in insurrection during the US Capitol riot three years ago.
The legal challenges hinge on whether a Civil War-era constitutional amendment renders Mr Trump ineligible to stand as a candidate.
The Supreme Court’s decision to hear Mr Trump’s appeal came after attorneys general from 27 states filed a brief asking the court to reject Colorado’s ruling.
In it, they argue that removing Mr Trump from the ballot would “create widespread chaos”.
“Most obviously, it casts confusion into an election cycle that is just weeks away,” reads the submission.
“Beyond that, it upsets the respective roles of the Congress, the states and the courts.”
The 14th Amendment of the US Constitution bans anyone who has “engaged in insurrection or rebellion” from holding federal office, but the former president’s lawyers argue it does not apply to the president.
His lawyers have argued: “The Colorado Supreme Court decision would unconstitutionally disenfranchise millions of voters in Colorado and likely be used as a template to disenfranchise tens of millions of voters nationwide.”
Mr Trump has also appealed against a decision by electoral officials in Maine to remove him from the ballot.
Following the Supreme Court’s announcement on Friday, Colorado’s Secretary of State Jena Griswold said she had certified the state’s ballots for the upcoming presidential primary elections and that Mr Trump’s name was on them.
The primary ballots, held in each state, will help to determine which presidential candidates run in November’s election.
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