Plaintiffs John Doe, a minor child by and through his parents Jack and Jane Doe, as well as Jack and Jane Doe, individually (collectively, “Plaintiffs”), filed this lawsuit against Defendant New Jersey Governor Christopher J. Christie (“Defendant” or “Governor Christie”), challenging the constitutionality of Assembly Bill Number A3371 (“A3371”) (codified at
N.J.S.A. 45:1–54, –55),
which prohibits New Jersey state licensed practitioners, who provide professional counseling services, from treating minors using methods of Sexual Orientation Change Efforts (“SOCE”), more commonly known as “gay conversion therapy.” Plaintiff John Doe seeks to engage in SOCE, and his parents Jack and Jane Doe wish the same for him, but Plaintiffs are precluded from obtaining SOCE in New Jersey under the prohibition set forth in A3371, and thus they have filed the instant action seeking a declaration that the statute is unconstitutional, and enjoining the operation thereof. Plaintiffs' core challenge to A3371 focuses on whether, by prohibiting the practice of SOCE, New Jersey has impermissibly infringed upon Plaintiffs' First Amendment rights—
i.e., freedom of speech and religious expression—as well as Plaintiffs Jack and Jane Doe's constitutional right to care for their child and direct his upbringing. In line with this Court's previous decision in a similar lawsuit, brought by therapists challenging the constitutionality of A3371,
see King v. Christie, 981 F.Supp.2d 296 (D.N.J.2013), as well as the law applicable to Plaintiffs' specific claims, I conclude that A3371 passes constitutional muster. Accordingly, Defendant's motion to dismiss is
GRANTED in its entirety; and Plaintiffs' motion for preliminary injunction is
DENIED. Additionally, Garden State Equality (“Garden State”) has filed a motion to intervene under
F.R.C.P. 24(b), which is
GRANTED.