Ashley Reeb, a resident of Chalmette, Louisiana, has filed a lawsuit in East Baton Rouge Parish with the aim of preventing former President Donald Trump from appearing on the state’s 2024 primary ballot. Filed on December 22, Reeb’s lawsuit is part of a series of similar legal actions taken across various states, all centered around the events of January 6, 2021.
The lawsuit argues that Trump’s alleged involvement in the January 6 insurrection disqualifies him from holding any office under the United States. This argument mirrors the reasoning used in similar cases in other states, including a notable ruling in Colorado where the state Supreme Court declared Trump ineligible for the ballot. This Colorado decision is expected to be appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Reeb’s legal action against Louisiana’s Secretary of State, Kyle Ardoin, follows the wording of the Colorado lawsuit and others. Her social media posts reveal her deep concern about the January 6 unrest and her respect for conservative legal scholar J. Michael Luttig, who has described the argument for striking Trump from the ballot as ‘unassailable’.
Political analysts, however, are divided on the soundness of the legal arguments surrounding Article 14 and Trump’s actions. Robert Collins, a political analyst at Dillard University, considers Reeb’s petition a long shot, noting that Trump has not been criminally convicted of insurrection. LSU political science professor James Stoner also pointed out that the lack of a conviction weakens the petition’s foundation.
The Michigan court recently ruled in favor of Trump remaining on the ballot, providing a contrasting decision to the Colorado judges. This series of lawsuits and the varying outcomes in different states highlight the ongoing legal and political debates surrounding Trump’s eligibility for future office, particularly in light of the January 6 events. As these cases continue to unfold, they are likely to set significant precedents for election law and the interpretation of the U.S. Constitution.