Trump plans to skip SCOTUS hearing on ballot eligibility

Donald Trump is not expected to appear at the Supreme Court on Thursday for oral arguments in the case challenging his presidential primary ballot eligibility in Colorado, sources familiar with his plans told CNN.

Despite the former president using his recent trials and court proceedings as media coverageto promote his 2024 presidential campaign, the arguments in Trump v Anderson will apparently not serve as such.

Instead, Mr Trump will stay at his home in Mar-a-Lago, Florida, before heading to Nevada for Thursday’s Republican caucus.

A source close to Mr Trump’s legal team told CNN that the former president’s decision to skip the SCOTUS hearing is an indication of how seriously Mr Trump is taking this particular case.

The Independent has reached out to Mr Trump’s spokesperson for comment.

During previous court hearings in his myriad of criminal and civil cases, Mr Trump has made a show out of his attendance by speaking out of turn in the courtroom, attacking the judge, court staff and proscutors online – and more. 

Former U.S. President Donald Trump sits in the courtroom during his civil fraud trial at New York Supreme Court on January 11, 2024 in New York City.

But in the case that could decide the future of his presidential campaign, Mr Trump is staying away from Washington DC and letting the well-known conservative lawyer, Jonathan F Mitchell, argue on his behalf.

Mr Mitchell, who is credited with devising the enforcement method in the Texas Heartbeat Act, has argued in front of the Supreme Court five times throughout his career. He has submitted briefs in favour of overturning Roe v Wade as well as ending affirmative action in higher education.

During Mr Trump’s presidency, Mr Mitchell assisted in the transition