Supreme Court Restores Voting Rights for Censured Maine Lawmaker

The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered the Maine legislature to restore voting rights to Republican state Rep. Laurel Libby, who was censured after posting a viral social media message criticizing the participation of a transgender athlete in a girls' high school track competition. Libby argued that her censure violated her First Amendment rights and deprived her constituents of representation, a claim the court supported by granting an emergency injunction pending appeal. The controversy stems from Libby's post, which included the athlete's photo and name, prompting the Democratic-controlled House to block her from voting and speaking until she apologized, which she refused. While the court did not provide detailed reasoning for the decision, Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented, expressing concerns about the timing and implications of the ruling. The issue is part of a broader national debate over transgender athletes' participation in sports, with former President Donald Trump issuing an executive order banning transgender females from girls' sports and engaging in legal battles with states like Maine. Libby hailed the Supreme Court's decision as a victory for constitutional free speech and legislative representation rights.