On Friday, February 20, 2026, WMTW reported that the Department of Justice (DOJ) is advocating for the recusal of two judges in a Maine Title IX case, citing potential impartiality. The motion, filed in response to a lawsuit alleging Title IX violations in Maine, argues that the presiding district and magistrate judges should step down to ensure fairness in the legal proceedings.
The DOJ’s argument is rooted in a previous case involving State Representative Laurel Libby. Libby faced censure from the Maine House of Representatives following a social media post criticizing transgender athletes participating in girls’ sports. The DOJ contends that the involvement of the same judges in both the Libby case and the current Title IX lawsuit presents a conflict of interest, as a District of Maine employee was involved in the Libby lawsuit.
The Maine Department of Education (DOE) is challenging the DOJ’s motion for recusal. The DOE argues that the two cases involve distinct legal issues and that the DOJ’s request comes too late in the process.
Furthermore, the Maine DOE claims the lawsuit was initiated as political retaliation following a February 2025 confrontation between Governor Janet Mills and President Donald Trump regarding transgender athletes’ participation in women’s and girls’ sports. This exchange occurred at a National Governors Association event at the White House, during which Mills reportedly told Trump, “We’ll see you in court.”
In April 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi announced that the DOJ had filed a lawsuit against the Maine DOE, alleging that Maine’s policies violated Title IX by allowing transgender athletes, assigned male at birth, to compete in girls’ sports. Mills and her administration maintain that Maine’s policies are in compliance with state law, specifically the Maine Human Rights Act, in ensuring transgender athletes can participate in girls’ sports.
A judge has mandated that both sides be prepared for a trial by April 1.
Source: WMTW
