Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/23pdf/23-719_19m2.pdf
Page Number: 14

Cite as:  601 U. S. ____ (2024) 

1 

Opinion of BARRETT, J. 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

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No. 23–719 
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DONALD J. TRUMP, PETITIONER v. 
NORMA ANDERSON, ET AL. 

ON WRIT OF CERTIORARI TO THE SUPREME COURT 
OF COLORADO 

[March 4, 2024] 

JUSTICE BARRETT, concurring in part and concurring in 

the judgment. 

I join Parts I and II–B of the Court’s opinion.  I agree that
States lack the power to enforce Section 3 against Presiden-
tial candidates.  That principle is sufficient to resolve this 
case, and I would decide no more than that.  This suit was 
brought by Colorado voters under state law in state court.
It does not require us to address the complicated question
whether federal legislation is the exclusive vehicle through
which Section 3 can be enforced. 

The  majority’s  choice  of  a  different  path  leaves  the  re-
maining  Justices  with  a  choice  of how  to  respond.    In  my
judgment, this is not the time to amplify disagreement with 
stridency.  The Court has settled a politically charged issue
in  the  volatile  season  of  a  Presidential  election.  Particu-
larly  in  this  circumstance,  writings  on  the  Court  should 
turn the national temperature down, not up.  For present 
purposes,  our  differences  are  far  less  important  than  our 
unanimity: All nine Justices agree on the outcome of this 
case.  That is the message Americans should take home.