The Minnesota Supreme Court has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to prevent former President Donald Trump from appearing on the state's 2024 primary ballot. The lawsuit was filed by the liberal group Free Speech For People, which argued that Trump's role in the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol disqualified him from holding office under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. However, the court ruled that state law allows political parties to choose their own candidates for the primary ballot and that there is no statute prohibiting an ineligible candidate from being included. Chief Justice Natalie Hudson stated, "There is no state statute that prohibits a major political party from placing on the presidential nomination primary ballot, or sending delegates to the national convention supporting, a candidate who is ineligible to hold office."

The court's decision did not address the central question of whether Trump's actions on January 6th constituted an insurrection and thus disqualified him from the presidency. Instead, the ruling focused on the party's rights to select their own candidates. The court also left open the possibility for future challenges to Trump's candidacy in the general election.

Trump responded to the ruling on his social media platform, Truth Social, calling the lawsuit a "ridiculous 14th Amendment lawsuit" and congratulating those who fought against it. He reiterated his belief that the lawsuit was a hoax.

The provision of the 14th Amendment in question was originally intended to prevent former Confederates from holding government positions after the Civil War. The plaintiffs argued that it should be interpreted as a qualification for the presidency, similar to the requirement that a candidate be at least 35 years old.

Similar cases invoking Section 3 of the 14th Amendment are being heard in other states, including Colorado. Legal experts expect that the issue may eventually reach the U.S. Supreme Court, which has never ruled on the application of Section 3.

In response to the ruling, Trump's campaign issued a statement calling the challenges to his candidacy "unconstitutional attempts to interfere with the election." The Minnesota Republican Party chair praised the court's decision, stating that it upheld the voice of voters in Minnesota elections.

Overall, while the Minnesota Supreme Court dismissed the lawsuit against Trump's appearance on the primary ballot, the ruling left open the possibility for future challenges in the general election. The court's decision focused on the rights of political parties to choose their own candidates rather than addressing the question of whether Trump's actions on January 6th constituted an insurrection. The outcome of this case may have significant implications for future presidential elections.