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Terry Alvin Doughty

Born 1/1/1959

Judicial Career

  • judLAWD
    3/7/2018present

Biography

(Redirected from Terry Alvin Doughty )

American judge (born 1959)

Terry Alvin Doughty (born 1959) is the chief United States district judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana . He served as a judge on the Fifth Judicial District Court in Louisiana from 2009 to 2018.

Early life and education

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Doughty was born in 1959 in Rayville , Richland Parish , Louisiana . He received his Bachelor of Science in finance from Louisiana Tech University and his Juris Doctor from the Louisiana State University Law School .

Career

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From 1985 through 2008, Doughty served as an assistant district attorney for the Fifth Judicial District of Louisiana. During that period, he prosecuted misdemeanor and felony cases, and litigated post-conviction proceedings and juvenile cases. Before joining the district attorney's office, he practiced at the Rayville law firm of Cotton, Bolton, Hoychick & Doughty.

Judicial career

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State judicial career

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As a judge, Doughty presided over criminal , civil , and juvenile cases arising in the parishes of Franklin , Richland , and West Carroll . Elected in 2008 to serve as a judge of the Fifth Judicial District in Louisiana, he replaced retiring Judge Glenn W. Strong. He assumed that office on January 1, 2009 and served as chief judge from 2013 to 2014. In 2015, Doughty was reelected to the court and received the Citizen Lawyer Award from the Louisiana State Bar Association. On March 8, 2018, he retired from the state bench and was succeeded by John Hamilton.

Federal judicial service

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On August 3, 2017, President Donald Trump nominated Doughty to serve as a United States District Judge of the United States District Court for the Western District of Louisiana, to the seat vacated by Judge Robert G. James , who assumed senior status on May 31, 2016. His nomination was endorsed by U.S. Representative Ralph Abraham of Louisiana's 5th congressional district , who like Doughty resides in Richland Parish, and U.S. Senators Bill Cassidy and John Neely Kennedy . Doughty was rated "well qualified" by the American Bar Association . On November 1, 2017, a hearing on his nomination was held before the Senate Judiciary Committee . On December 7, 2017, his nomination was reported out of committee by a voice vote . On March 1, 2018, the United States Senate invoked cloture on his nomination by a 94–2 vote. Doughty was confirmed on March 6, 2018, by a 98–0 vote. He received his commission on March 7, 2018. He became chief judge on December 5, 2022.

Notable rulings

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On July 4, 2023, Doughty issued an injunction against the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation , among others, prohibiting them from asking social media companies to remove alleged misinformation, as part of a lawsuit brought by Missouri and Louisiana against the Biden administration for what the plaintiffs describe as violations of the First Amendment and federal law. On July 14, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit halted the order for the time being.

Limitations on Biden administration contact with social media firms

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On July 4, 2023, in connection with a lawsuit filed by the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, Doughty ruled that the Biden administration likely violated the First Amendment in censoring negative views regarding aspects of the coronavirus pandemic on social media, placing limits on the Administration's contact with social media firms. _Politico _ reported:

Doughty also issued a sweeping preliminary injunction barring numerous federal officials and agencies—including Surgeon General Vivek Murthy , Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra , [White House press secretary](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_House_press_secretary "White House press

Biographical content from Wikipedia (CC-BY-SA 4.0).

Notable opinions

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On July 4, 2023, Doughty issued an injunction against the Department of Health and Human Services and the Federal Bureau of Investigation , among others, prohibiting them from asking social media companies to remove alleged misinformation, as part of a lawsuit brought by Missouri and Louisiana against the Biden administration for what the plaintiffs describe as violations of the First Amendment and federal law. On July 14, 2023, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit halted the order for the time being.

Limitations on Biden administration contact with social media firms

[(https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Terry_A._Doughty&action=edit&section=7 "Edit section: Limitations on Biden administration contact with social media firms")
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On July 4, 2023, in connection with a lawsuit filed by the Republican attorneys general of Missouri and Louisiana, Doughty ruled that the Biden administration likely violated the First Amendment in censoring negative views regarding aspects of the coronavirus pandemic on social media, placing limits on the Administration's contact with social media firms. _Politico _ reported:

Doughty also issued a sweeping preliminary injunction barring numerous federal officials and agencies—including Surgeon General Vivek Murthy , Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra , White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and all employees of the Justice Department and FBI—from having any contact with social media firms for the purpose of discouraging or removing First Amendment-protected speech.

The next day, the Department of Justice (DOJ) requested that Doughty stay his order pending appeal, which he denied; within hours, the DOJ filed a notice to appeal.

Ten days later, a three-judge panel for the New Orleans–based Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request for a temporary hold on the "far-reaching preliminary injunction", while it is referred to an appeals panel that will rule on a longer-term stay of Doughty's order. …

Recent opinions

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Financial disclosures

Annual filings under the Ethics in Government Act. Hosted by CourtListener; open the year to see positions, investments, gifts, agreements, and debts.

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This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by jurisdiction and change frequently. Always verify current law with official sources and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction for advice on your specific situation.