Maine state lawmaker censured for Facebook post on transgender athlete asks Supreme Court to intervene

Washington — A member of Maine's House of Representatives is asking the Supreme Court for emergency relief after she was censured for criticizing the state for allowing transgender athletes at public high schools to participate in girls sports.

Laurel Libby, a Republican who represents the state's House District 90, asked the high court to issue an injunction that would require the chamber's clerk to count her votes. She argued that her constituents are being disenfranchised as a result of the punishment imposed on her for refusing to apologize after she was censured by the state House in a party-line vote last month.

"Without emergency relief from this court, Maine House District 90's residents are without equal representation for the rest of their chosen legislator's term," lawyers for Libby wrote in their emergency appeal to the Supreme Court.