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Home ยป News ยป News ยป Judge Assigned to Federal Lawsuit Against Maine Recuses Himself
News

Judge Assigned to Federal Lawsuit Against Maine Recuses Himself

Seamus OthotBy Seamus OthotApril 22, 2025Updated:April 22, 202516 Comments2 Mins Read4K Views
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The federal jurist assigned to the federal lawsuit against Maine for refusing to bar transgender-identifying men from women’s sports, U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison, recused himself from the case on Friday after previously recusing himself from Rep. Laurel Libby’s (R-Auburn) lawsuit against her censure order.

[RELATED: DOJ Files Civil Suit Against Maine, Rep. Libby and Two Maine Students Join AG Bondi in Live Presser…]

Last week, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced a civil Title IX antidiscrimination lawsuit against Maine after the state obstinately refused to comply with President Donald Trump’s executive order “Keeping Men out of Women’s Sports.”

That order established the administration’s interpretation of Title IX, demanding that schools protect girls’ spaces, such as restrooms and locker rooms, and girls’ sports from transgender-identifying men.

The U.S. District Court of Maine’s Judge Nivison was initially assigned to hear the federal case against Maine but recused himself without explanation on Friday.

Nivison was also among the judges who recused themselves from a related case last month. In March, Rep. Libby brought a suit against House Speaker Ryan Fecteau (D-Biddeford) after she was censured and prevented from voting or speaking on the House floor. Rep. Fecteau censured Libby with Democratic support after she posted a picture of a trans-identifying male athlete on social media showing him standing victorious at a high school girls’ sporting competition.

[RELATED: In Unprecedented Move, All Maineโ€™s Federal Judges Recuse from GOP Repโ€™s Challenge to Democrat Speakerโ€™s Vote-Stripping Censure Order โ€“ UPDATE…]

Libby’s post and the controversy surrounding it brought national attention to Maine and ultimately contributed to the federal lawsuit the state now faces.

Libby’s case was initially set to be considered in Maine’s federal court, but in an unprecedented move, every one of the state’s federal district judges recused themselves from the case without explanation.

The Maine Wire later discovered that one of the parents of the transgender-identifying high school athlete depicted in Libby’s post is an employee of the court, suggesting the likely reason for the recusal.

The same potential conflict of interest likely led to Nivison’s recusal from the DOJ lawsuit, as that lawsuit targets the same issue central to Libby’s situation.

The federal suit has been reassigned to Stacey D. Neumann, though she also recused herself from Libby’s case, suggesting that the same potential conflict seen by Nivison could apply to her as well.

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Seamus Othot

Seamus Othot is a reporter for The Maine Wire. He grew up in New Hampshire, and graduated from The Thomas More College of Liberal Arts, where he was able to spend his time reading the great works of Western Civilization. He can be reached at [email protected] or โ€ช(401) 216-9160โ€ฌ.

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Anita Knober
Anita Knober
1 year ago

Right, so judges ARE bias, got it.

25
Jimmy Potatoes
Jimmy Potatoes
1 year ago

Good point. He’s saying he’ll be influenced by his feelings and not the law. I don’t think that’s how its suppose to work. More activist than judge.

24
John Campter
John Campter
1 year ago

So, as long as the trans pole vauters mother works for the courts, therewillbe no fairness to girls in sports. That is one powerful parent taking down the whole state.

26
Wrs
Wrs
1 year ago

It is obvious that the boyโ€™s mother (who works for the courts) has something to do with all of this either by way of influence or position. There has got to be more to this story that hasnโ€™t been fully told yet.

18
Blob watcher
Blob watcher
1 year ago

And so the liberal judge shopping starts.

16
Beachmom
Beachmom
1 year ago

FoJ
Friend of Janet’s

10
getting played
getting played
1 year ago

in case you dont understand…. he refuses to go along with the crazyness and lacks courage to stand for what his right… so he preserves his status by punting to a judge that will side the democrats! unless he is tranny himself there is no reason to recuse… just another way to judge shop…

11
Louise Woods
Louise Woods
1 year ago

Is he another LGBTQ sympathizer ?
Where the hell does these people come from โ€ฆ.Maine seems to have more than enough .
How about appointing a judge for Arkansas or Tennessee or some state that doesnโ€™t worship queer dogma . Whatโ€™s the problem with that ?

5
Boxcar
Boxcar
1 year ago

So the mother of the mentally ill Greely boy pole vaulter works with every justice in that court house??? Is she the janitor or cafeteria food server????

11
Gardiner Schneider
Gardiner Schneider
1 year ago

Is U.S. Magistrate Judge John Nivison light in his loafers?

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C.A
C.A
1 year ago

The real issue here is that if he upholds the law, it could reflect poorly on him with the people or groups he relies on for support. So instead of doing his job, he takes the easy way out and recuses himself. Honestly, judges should not be allowed to step away from a case without providing a clear and specific reason. That kind of move undermines public trust and accountability.

13
Pineoman
Pineoman
1 year ago

Reverse judge shopping. Judges keep recusing themselves to delay the suit and get this case to a judge that will not support the law. These judges do not want to be in a position to be faced with upholding the law of the land – Title 9. They also don’t want to be overruled in appeal. The Left has broken our judiciary system.

6
Nancy
Nancy
1 year ago

The left habit of hiding is obvious. They don’t like to stand in opposition to their own preferences. That’s not being neutral and pursuing justice…

1
Jon
Jon
1 year ago

Simple enough – Mills owns the courts, the judges and the entire judiciary in Maine!
She controls every investigative body, from the State AG, the MSP, all rhe DA’s, everyone!
Mills controls it all!

0
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