Baton Rouge Attorney Breaks Down Free Speech Fight Over Entergy Fee Coverage

Attorney Franz Borghardt offered sharp insight this week into the growing clash between the East Baton Rouge Parish Attorney’s Office and Central City News over coverage of a lawsuit tied to Entergy franchise fees. The parish attorney is seeking a protective order to limit publisher Woody Jenkins from reporting on the case, arguing his articles could influence a potential jury.Borghardt called the move strategic but misguided, saying it shifts attention away from the lawsuit and onto a debate about First Amendment rights. He stressed that political speech, opinion writing, and even sharply biased commentary remain protected. He predicted the motion will fail and may even boost Jenkins’ readership.The underlying lawsuit challenges a Metro Council ordinance sending about $100,000 in Entergy fees to each council district. But for now, the spotlight is firmly on free speech, media bias, and whether the parish attorney’s tactic backfires.