News

All 6 Maine Fedal Judges Recuse Themselves from Rep Libby’s Lawsuit

All 6 Maine Fedal Judges Recuse Themselves from Rep Libby’s Lawsuit

Photo: 560 WGAN Newsradio


All six Maine federal judges are recusing themselves from Republican State Representative Laurel Libby’s lawsuit against House Speaker Ryan Fecteau.

A statement from the federal court says the judges are doing so because an employee of Maine is involved in controversy stemming from the case.

“The Judges of the District of Maine independently concluded that they are compelled by the Code of Conduct for United States Judges to recuse themselves because an employee of the District of Maine is involved in or directly impacted by the controversy underlying this litigation.” said Chief U.S. District Judge Lance E. Walker in the statement.

Libby claims Fecteau violated her First and 14th Amendment rights when the House censured her and banned her from speaking or voting on the House floor. House members voted to censure her along party lines after she identified a transgender student athlete by name and with a picture online.

Libby, who represents Minot and part of Auburn, would be given the ability to vote and speak on the floor again if she were to apologize, which she has continued to say she won’t do.

The case will remain in the District of Maine but has been specially assigned to judges in the District of Rhode Island, according to Judge Walker’s statement.

Walker said the court typically does not comment on its orders, including orders of recusal, but did so in this case because of the unique circumstances.

Latest Headlines

43 minutes ago in Local

Deputies Say Alcohol, Speed Involved in Standish Crash

Fresh

The crash remains under investigation by the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office.

56 minutes ago in Local

Massachusetts Man Arrested in Cumberland County for Homicide

Fresh

The suspect is currently in the Cumberland County Jail awaiting his return to Massachusetts.

1 hour ago in Local

Police investigate death of Sugarloaf employee

Fresh

An apparent shooting Sunday night in Carrabasett Valley that left a Sugarloaf employee dead is under investigation.

1 hour ago in Local

Buxton woman accused of setting fire to vehicle owned by boyfriend’s relative

Fresh

A Buxton woman is charged with arson for allegedly setting fire to a vehicle belonging to her boyfriend's family member.

11 hours ago in Trending, World

Iran names Khamenei’s son to succeed him, signaling no letup in war as oil prices surge

Iran named the hard-line Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei to succeed his late father as supreme leader on Monday, signaling no letup in the war launched by the United States and Israel. Oil prices surged as Iran attacked regional energy infrastructure and the U.S. and Israel bombed targets across Iran.