In a groundbreaking ruling, four liberal justices from the Colorado Supreme Court have barred former President Donald Trump from appearing on the 2024 presidential ballot in the state. These justices, all appointed by Democrats, played a crucial role in the landmark decision that has sparked controversy and debate.

The justices responsible for the ruling are Richard L. Gabriel, Melissa Hart, Monica Márquez, and William W. Hood III. Three of them are Ivy League graduates, while the fourth is the first Latina and openly gay woman to serve on Colorado's highest court.

Justice Richard L. Gabriel, a native of Brooklyn, New York, joined the Supreme Court in June 2015 after a successful career in commercial and intellectual property law, according to his biography on the Colorado Judicial Branch’s website. A graduate of Yale University and the University of Pennsylvania Law School, Justice Gabriel has faced allegations of harassment in the past. However, an external investigation found the accusations to be unfounded.

Justice Melissa Hart, appointed in December 2017, is an adjunct professor at the University of Colorado Law School and the University of Denver's Sturm College of Law, Law, according to her bio. She holds degrees from Harvard-Radcliffe and Harvard Law School. Hart has also been accused of discrimination in a lawsuit, but the case was dismissed by a federal judge due to lack of evidence.

Justice Monica Márquez, the first Latina and openly gay person on the Colorado Supreme Court, has an impressive background. She earned her bachelor's degree from Stanford University and her law degree from Yale, Court, her bio says. Before joining the court in 2010, Márquez served as an assistant solicitor general and assistant attorney general, demonstrating her commitment to public service.

Justice William W. Hood III, a member of the Supreme Court since January 2014, had a successful career as a litigation partner and prosecutor in the state's 18th Judicial District. A graduate of the University of Virginia School of Law, his bio says. Justice Hood has been praised for his intelligence, fairness, and preparedness for oral arguments.

Together, these four justices ruled in the 4 to 3 vote that the events of January 6, 2021, constituted an insurrection and that Trump was involved in the alleged rebellion.

This marks the first time in history that Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment, which disqualifies insurrectionists from office, has been used to prevent a presidential candidate from appearing on the ballot.

The decision has ignited a fierce debate, with critics arguing that the ruling reflects a partisan bias among the justices. Conservatives view this as another example of the political left exerting its influence to silence opposition voices. However, supporters of the ruling believe it upholds the principles of accountability and ensures that those who engage in insurrection are not eligible for office.

READ MORE:

• CO SUPREMES DISQUALIFY TRUMP FROM 2024 BALLOT – FOR A MINUTE

• BOTH SIDES IN THE COLORADO TRUMP CASE HAVE NOW APPEALED

• CO SUPREMES WEIGHS TRUMP'S ELIGIBILITY UNDER INSURRECTION CLAUSE

• DENVER JUDGE TO RULE SOON ON TRUMP'S BALLOT ELIGIBILITY

Here's why that matters: if Trump isn't on a state's primary ballot, he doesn't get delegates from that state and if enough states disqualify him, he may not have enough delegates to secure the Republican nomination.

If Trump appeals but the U.S. Supreme Court doesn't issue a ruling until after Jan. 4, Trump remains on Colorado's primary ballot. But, if the U.S. Supreme Court upholds the Colorado State Supreme Court's ruling, any votes for Trump wouldn't count.

Steven Cheung, a Trump campaign spokesman, issued a written statement Tuesday evening in response to the Colorado Supreme Court ruling, saying, in part, "Democrat Party leaders are in a state of paranoia over the growing, dominant lead President Trump has amassed in the polls. They have lost faith in the failed Biden presidency and are now doing everything they can to stop the American voters from throwing them out of office next November."