US Supreme Court Restores Maine Lawmaker's Voting Rights After Censure

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily restored Maine State Representative Laurel Libby's voting and speaking privileges after she was censured by the Democratic-controlled House for a social media post that identified and criticized a transgender student athlete. The post, which included the student's name and photo, sparked significant backlash and led to Libby being barred from voting and speaking until she apologized. Libby challenged the censure, arguing it violated her First Amendment rights and left her constituents without representation. Although lower courts ruled against her, the Supreme Court granted her emergency relief in a 7-2 vote, with Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissenting and expressing concerns about the court’s lowered standard for emergency interventions. The court did not provide a detailed explanation for its decision, and Libby's lawsuit continues in lower courts. This case highlights ongoing tensions over transgender athletes' participation in sports and broader debates about free speech and legislative discipline.