Friday, the representative of the state of Maine Laurel Libby on his recent censorship by the state legislature went to the Federal Court for his first hearing in Rhode Island. The judge of the American district court Melissa Dubose chairs the case and will make a decision in response to the request of Libby for a preliminary injunction in the coming weeks.
Dubose was appointed by former President Joe Biden in early January.
Libby continues the president of the Maine Chamber, Ryan Fecteau, and the registrar of representatives Robert Hunt after the Democratic majority voted to censor it on a social networks of February who identified a trans athlete who won a state pole jump competition.
The premise of censorship was based on the publication of Libby identifying a minor by name and in a photo.
But Libby and his lawyer, Patrick Strawbridge, say that a censorship against her violates her rights to the first amendment and disinfranchia more than 9,000 voters. Friday, they argued that punishment was “extreme” and entered an “unprecedented territory” by silence an elected official.
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The deputy prosecutor general of Maine Jonathan Bolton and Kimberly Patwardhan, representative Fecteau and the State, defended censorship, arguing that decisions on the vote, the adoption of the rules and the punishment of the members are in the constitutional authority of the Maine Chamber.
Libby told PK Press Club Digital that she felt “optimistic” out of the first hearing.
“I think that our case is solid, and that it is resolved now or at any stage in the future, I think that in the end, we will prevail. I am optimistic, certainly after today, and I hope that the court will see the damage caused to our voters,” said Libby.
“What was remarkable for me is AAG’s dependence on the legislature above the law … They are almost entirely based on legislative immunity.”
The initial social media of Libby put Maine in an ongoing conflict with the federal government on the refusal of the State to ban trans athletes from female sports.
Maine Girl involved in the battle of Trans athletes reveals how state policies harm her childhood and sport career
The state refused to comply with the executive order of President Donald Trump to ban the trans -girls and female sports athletes, which caused a huge federal pressure. Trump initially promised to reduce federal funding to the State if he refused to comply with the order during a speech on February 20, a few days after Libby published his social media position.
The American Department of Agriculture announced on Wednesday a break and a continuous examination of federal funding in Maine after the Refused state Offer equal chances to women and girls in educational programs.
The fire of the freedom of expression group filed a memory of Amicus in support of Libby on Thursday the day before the first hearing.
“If political majorities can impose draconian sanctions on political minorities, then no point of view is sure. It is not a way to maintain America’s solid commitment to free and open political speeches, and that is why the first amendment prohibits officials from response against PK Press Club Digital.
All the federal judges of Maine have recused themselves from the case.
The representative of the state of Maine, Laurel Libby, rings the alarm in the face of the challenge of the state with regard to the executive order of President Donald Trump who demands the end of biological men in competition in female sports. (Getty / Maine House of Representatives)
The judges, John C. Nivison, John A. Woodcock, launches E. Walker, Karen F. Wolf, Stacey D. Neumann and Nancy Torresen, signed recusation orders on Tuesday, shortly after the case. No reason has been provided for the challenge of judges. The case has since been returned to the district of Rhode Island.
On March 20, Libby was authorized to speak and to present 10 amendments during a state-of-the-of-state budget. One of these modifications was not linked to the budget, but was a proposal to keep the athletes trans outside the sports of girls.
However, when Libby spoke to present his amendments, several Democrats protested, provoking a debate with Republican representatives. In the end, Libby’s amendments were not even taken into account and the Democrats decided to postpone the changes indefinitely.
