JUST IN: Trump Gets Huge Court Victory In Arizona

In a significant legal triumph for former President Donald Trump, a federal court in Arizona has dismissed the case challenging his eligibility to run for president, marking a major victory for the 2024 frontrunner.

The case, filed by John Anthony Castro, a Republican primary presidential candidate, sought to contest Trump’s appearance on Arizona’s Presidential Preference Election ballot. However, the court, presided over by United States District Judge Douglas L. Rayes, ruled that Castro lacked the necessary standing to bring his claim, leading to the dismissal of the case.

The court’s decision was based on the concept of “standing,” a legal principle that requires a person filing a lawsuit to prove they have suffered specific and actual harm from the action they’re challenging. The court found that at the time of filing, the evidence didn’t show that Castro was in direct competition with Trump or that he would be specifically harmed by Trump being on the election ballot.

Furthermore, the court found that Castro’s campaign finance reports, filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC), did not support his standing allegations. According to FEC records, between January 1, 2023, and September 30, 2023, Castro’s campaign reported a total of $678.00 in contributions, with minimal campaign presence in Arizona.

NEW: federal district court dismisses lawsuit seeking to bar Donald Trump from appearing on Arizona's presidential ballot. pic.twitter.com/UNnaaEjhZF

— Arizona Election Law (@azelectionlaw) December 5, 2023

Castro is a lesser-known figure competing as a Republican candidate for the Presidency in the 2024 election. He previously sought election to the U.S. House representing Texas’ 6th District in 2021.

“The facts as they existed at the time Castro filed his verified complaint do not show that Castro is truly competing with Trump or will be injured in any concrete way by Trump’s appearance on Arizona’s Presidential Preference Election ballot,” the court document ruled.

Castro had filed 27 federal lawsuits challenging Trump’s eligibility to run under the 14th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. He has also publicly threatened Donald Trump with “legal hell” in his efforts to get Trump disqualified from the ballot in several states.

The discussions surrounding Trump and the 14th Amendment are primarily focused on Section 3 of the amendment. This section, often referred to as the “Disqualification Clause,” addresses the eligibility of individuals to serve in certain federal positions, including the presidency, based on their involvement in insurrection or rebellion against the United States.

Here’s the relevant text from Section 3 of the 14th Amendment:

“No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any State, who, having previously taken an oath, as a member of Congress, or as an officer of the United States, or as a member of any State legislature, or as an executive or judicial officer of any State, to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Along with rejecting Castro’s complaint, the court also made decisions on several other related legal requests. The complaint filed by a third party, the ARP, was dismissed because it was no longer relevant. All other pending legal requests were also denied for the same reason. The court instructed the Clerk of the Court to close the case, effectively ending this particular legal effort against Trump.