La. Judge Denies Motion to Intervene in RFK Jr. Social Media Censorship Case

U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty for Western Louisiana in Monroe denied social media personality Jason Goodman's Jan. 3 motion to intervene in Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s social media censorship case against officials from the Biden administration, said Doughty’s signed order Wednesday (docket 3:23-cv-00381). Goodman alleges that he, like Kennedy and his co-plaintiffs, Children’s Health Defense and Connie Sampognaro, is a victim of First Amendment speech suppression. He had asked to intervene by intervention of right or by permissive intervention because he brings specific facts that the current parties in Kennedy v. Biden are unaware of. But there are no allegations or evidence “to show that Goodman’s interest would be inadequately represented by the existing parties in the suit,” said Doughty’s order. Goodman’s allegations “align” with those of Kennedy and his co-plaintiffs, and Goodman hasn’t “overcome the presumption of adequate representation,” it said. District courts “have broad discretion in allowing intervention,” said the order. But if the court were to allow Goodman to intervene, “it would open the door for other alleged victims to intervene, which would likely slow down the expedited discovery schedule previously set,” it said.