The Roman Catholic Bishop of Maine challenged the law after it was sued by dozens of adults who claimed they were abused by clergy members.

Lawmakers in the state approved the law in 2021, and it was later challenged by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Portland.

The law allowed people to sue for decades-old claims of child sex abuse, previously barred by the state's statute of limitations.

Maine’s highest court has ruled against a law that removed the statute of limitations for civil claims about child sexual abuse.