In a legal win for former President Donald Trump, a California judge, District Judge David O Carter, has dismissed a lawsuit seeking to prevent Trump from appearing on the Republican primary ballot.
The judge granted the motion to dismiss the case with prejudice, emphasising that the claim of "Negligent Infliction of Emotional Distress" was beyond the "2-year statute of limitations." This means the case cannot be brought before the court again.
The plaintiff alleged suffering "severe emotional stress" due to Trump in January 2021, coinciding with the Capitol riot. Harmeet K. Dhillon, founder of Dhillon Law and a Republican National Committee committeewoman, shared the judge's decision on social media.
California Secretary of State Shirley Weber had previously included Trump on the primary list, certifying him alongside contenders Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley. Lieutenant Gov. Eleni Kounalakis had urged legal action to remove Trump based on Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, claiming he was an insurrectionist.
Despite the pressure, Weber asserted Trump's eligibility, stating the 14th Amendment was complex and not as straightforward as the age requirement. Governor Gavin Newsom called Trump a "threat to our liberties" in December 2023, emphasising defeating candidates at the polls.
Pending lawsuits aim to bar Trump from ballots in various states, with Maine and Colorado already declaring him ineligible. Trump has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, challenging the rulings. The Colorado Supreme Court, with a Democratic majority, found him ineligible based on the 14th Amendment, prompting Trump's campaign to denounce the decision as politically motivated.
Steven Cheung, Trump's campaign spokesman, urged the rejection of the Colorado ruling, emphasising it as an interference attempt. The legal battles over Trump's candidacy continue, setting the stage for a significant decision at the U.S. Supreme Court.