Araceli Martínez-Olguín, the U.S. District Court Judge for the Northern District of California, has extended a Temporary Restraining Order designed to pause the pending merger of CBS News & Stations parent Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery by an additional two weeks.
This lengthens the expiration of the TRO from August 3 to August 17, and Martínez-Olguín “finds good cause to extend the TRO on multiple grounds.” This includes the need to resolve two preliminary injunction motions, the parties’ disputes regarding the schedule,
and the proposed format of the preliminary injunction hearing.
She also cites Paramount Skydance’s stated willingness to abide by the terms of the TRO “for some weeks into the future.”
At the same time, Martínez-Olguín said no to an administrative motion to shorten time for a response to the defendants’ administrative motion for an evidentiary hearing.
Importantly, the one-time National Immigration Law Center supervising attorney and American Civil Liberties Union Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP) Staff Attorney “is unwilling to test the boundaries of its authority by extending the TRO’s effect beyond” 28 days.
But, if all can reach an agreement on a “hold separate” relationship not so dissimilar to that between TEGNA and Nexstar Media Group, an extended briefing and hearing schedule is amendable to the judge.
Martínez-Olguín’s decision also puts in sync two motions for preliminary injunctions — one is from WGA West, while the other is from California Attorney General Rob Bonta, representing the state.
— With reporting from RBR+TVBR in San Luis Obispo, Calif.
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