The continued existence of former President Donald J. Trump’s 2024 campaign is currently being litigated in a Colorado courtroom. A lawsuit filed by voters in Colorado argues that Trump is ineligible to hold office under the 14th Amendment due to his actions during the January 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Similar lawsuits are also expected to begin in Minnesota this week.

The Colorado lawsuit was filed in September by six Colorado voters, including Republicans and independents, with the assistance of the watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington. These voters claim that Trump’s presence on the Republican primary ballot would harm them by diverting support from their preferred candidates. They are demanding that the Colorado secretary of state not include Trump’s name on the ballot and are seeking a ruling that he is disqualified to end any uncertainty.

The 14th Amendment, specifically Section 3, is a central focus of the Colorado case. It states that no person can hold office if they have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the United States. The key questions are whether the 14th Amendment applies to the presidency, whether Trump’s actions qualify as insurrection or rebellion, and whether election officials or the courts can deem someone ineligible under Section 3 without specific action by Congress.

During the trial, the plaintiffs presented witnesses who testified about the events of January 6 and argued that Trump played a role in inciting the attack. Trump’s defense team called witnesses who attempted to distance him from the actions of the rioters. The trial is set to conclude on Friday.

The judge overseeing the trial, Sarah B. Wallace, rejected several motions to dismiss the case made by Trump’s lawyers and denied a request for a directed verdict. She emphasized that her denial should not be seen as a ruling on the legal questions at hand.

The timeline for Judge Wallace’s ruling is uncertain, but the trial is being expedited to meet the January deadline for the Colorado secretary of state to certify the primary ballot.