Though former President Donald Trump is banned by the Colorado Supreme Court from holding the state's 2024 ballot but it is unlikely to be the final word on the matter.

The court put its ruling on hold until Jan. 4, anticipating that Trump would appeal the decision to the U.S. Supreme Court, setting up a showdown to decide whether the Republican presidential front-runner can remain in the race just as primaries begin in early states.

The ruling does not apply outside of Colorado, and the state high court, whose justices were all appointed by Democratic governors, paused its decision until Jan. 4 — one day before the deadline for Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold to certify the candidates for the state's March 5 primary.

Lawsuits challenging Trump's candidacy have been filed in more than 25 states ahead of the 2024 election, though the Colorado case brought on behalf of six voters marks the most immediate threat to his campaign. National polls show Trump atop the field of candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination.

The Trump campaign called the decision "completely flawed" and said it will "swiftly" appeal the ruling.

"We have full confidence that the U.S. Supreme Court will quickly rule in our favor," Trump campaign spokesman Steven Cheung said in a statement.

David Becker, CBS News election law contributor, said it's not mandatory that the Supreme Court take this case, but "it's almost a 100% likelihood that they will take on this case."