Federal Judge Schedules Hearing on States' Request to Pause Paramount-Warner Bros. Deal

A federal judge has set a hearing for Friday at 10 a.m. PT to consider an emergency motion filed by twelve state attorneys general requesting a temporary restraining order that would pause Paramount Global's proposed merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The states argue that the order is needed while their antitrust lawsuit proceeds.

U.S. District Judge P. Casey Pitts, appointed by Joe Biden, was assigned the case on Tuesday. The court also gave Paramount until noon Thursday to file its opposition to the restraining order. The states have asked that the judge issue a ruling by July 22, noting that the companies could otherwise complete the transaction after that date, which coincides with the expected European Union decision. The U.S. Justice Department has already cleared the deal.