Supreme Court Restores Maine GOP Rep Voting After Transgender Sports Censure

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of Maine State Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican who was barred from voting and speaking in the Maine House of Representatives after criticizing a transgender female athlete competing in girls' sports. Libby’s social media posts drew controversy for highlighting a biological male student winning a girls' pole vault event, leading to her censure and suspension from legislative participation until she apologized. The Court granted her emergency request to restore her voting rights and speaking privileges, emphasizing constitutional protections and the disenfranchisement of her constituents. The ruling, supported by the Trump administration and the Department of Justice, was opposed by liberal justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson, who dissented on grounds of judicial overreach. The case underscores ongoing national debates over transgender athletes' participation in girls' sports and the limits of legislative discipline. Litigation will continue in lower courts regarding the broader constitutional issues raised by Libby’s challenge.