News

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

18 hours ago in Entertainment

Oscars preview: Producers tease ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ and ‘Sinners’ celebrations

The producers behind the 98th Academy Awards have set out to celebrate not just the hit song "Golden" from "KPop Demon Hunters", but the cultural phenomenon of the film itself. That logic is why the only other nominated song that will get a moment on the broadcast is "I Lied to You," from "Sinners," a blockbuster hit and the most-nominated film of all time.

18 hours ago in Entertainment, Music

Q&A: Shakira says she feels like she’s just getting started. A Rock Hall nomination begs to differ

Shakira is on her way to drop her son off at flag football practice. It's an ordinary experience for a mother who, in the not-so-recent past, has been at the center of some pretty extraordinary circumstances.

2 days ago in Entertainment

‘Dancing with the Stars’ pro Mark Ballas leaps back to Broadway in ‘Chicago’

Mark Ballas is returning to Broadway in "Chicago" and the "Dancing with the Stars" pro will be reuniting with an old friend. Ballas, playing slippery lawyer Billy Flynn starting April 6, will share the stage with his Roxie, Whitney Leavitt, the "Secret Lives of Mormon Wives" star who was his dancing partner on "Dancing with the Stars" last year.

3 days ago in Entertainment

Multiple gunshots fired near Rihanna’s LA home and a woman is taken into custody

Los Angeles police took a woman into custody after she fired gunshots outside Rihanna 's gated home, according to authorities and news reports on Monday.

3 days ago in Entertainment

Pixar’s ‘Hoppers’ bounds to No. 1 as Warner Bros.’ ‘The Bride!’ is on life support

Disney and Pixar's environmental adventure "Hoppers" topped the North American box office this weekend with $46 million in domestic ticket sales in its opening weekend, according to studio estimates Sunday.