'Cowboys for Trump' founder is hoping a Supreme Court ruling on ballot eligibility could help him too

WASHINGTON — Couy Griffin is a fervent supporter of Donald Trump but he has an additional reason for hoping the Supreme Court rules that the former president can stay on the ballot in Colorado — the decision could benefit him as well.

Griffin, a founder of "Cowboys for Trump," was criminally convicted for his participation in the events of Jan. 6 that led to an attack on the U.S. Capitol and was later kicked out of office as a county commissioner in New Mexico as a result.

He has his own appeal pending at the Supreme Court that raises similar questions to Trump's appeal argued last week.

Griffin was removed from his elected position based on the same theory that Colorado officials cite to prevent Trump from appearing on the ballot: a section of the 14th amendment that says those who “engaged in insurrection” cannot hold office.

Based on oral arguments last week, it appears likely the Supreme Court will rule for Trump in his case. The Supreme Court's reasoning could then apply in Griffin's case.

Griffin said in an interview he listened to some of the argument and was heartened by the justices' questions.

"President Trump is at the very top and I am at the very bottom but a lot of the things they are trying to go after Trump on they have already been after me on,” he said. “I have kind of been a testing ground for the legal stuff.”

The justices are scheduled to discuss Griffin's case in private for the first time at their regular private conference on Friday.

A state judge removed Griffin from his position as a commissioner in Otero County, N.M. in September 2022 after concluding that his actions on Jan. 6 made him ineligible to serve.

Earlier that year, Griffin was convicted of illegally entering the Capitol grounds,