A Republican state lawmaker from Maine, Rep. Laurel Libby, has appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court following her censure by the state House for a social media post about a transgender athlete. Libby claims that the censure has impeded her ability to speak and vote, effectively silencing her constituents' representation. Her post, which identified a transgender high school athlete, sparked a wider political clash involving former President Donald Trump and Maine's Democratic Governor Janet Mills, culminating in a lawsuit filed by the Trump administration against the state. Maine's House Speaker, Ryan Fecteau, accused Libby of breaching the legislative ethics code, leading to her censure in February. Although Libby argues that her free speech rights have been violated, a federal judge ruled that the censure does not warrant judicial intervention in legislative matters.

Rep. Laurel Libby, a Republican from Maine, was censured by the state House for a social media post regarding a transgender athlete, which she argues violates her free speech rights and hinders her legislative duties.

The censure has left Libby unable to speak or vote on the House floor, essentially depriving her constituents of representation, prompting her to seek intervention from the U.S. Supreme Court.

Libby's controversial post involved a transgender high school athlete, which led to a larger political dispute between Republican President Donald Trump and Democratic Maine Governor Janet Mills.

The Trump administration subsequently filed a lawsuit against Maine, accusing the state of failing to comply with efforts to ban transgender athletes from competing in sports categories aligning with their gender identity.

Democratic House Speaker Ryan Fecteau accused Libby of violating the legislative ethics code, which resulted in her censure in February, despite her claims of a free speech violation.

A federal judge determined that the censure was not severe enough to warrant judicial action, as it falls within the scope of legislative operations.

The ongoing legal battle highlights the tensions between state legislative actions and federal administration policies regarding transgender athlete participation in sports.