Deals
AT&T Merger Challenge Lands With Judge Who Approved Comcast-NBC
- Leon had early concerns that deal would hurt streaming firms
- A jurist known for drama and skepticism of the government
Why the DOJ Has a Daunting Battle Ahead in the AT&T Case
This article is for subscribers only.
The U.S. Justice Department’s lawsuit to block AT&T Inc.’s purchase of Time Warner Inc. will be overseen by a federal judge who signed off on a similar deal: Comcast Corp.’s purchase of NBCUniversal.
The court initially said Tuesday that the lawsuit would be handled by U.S. District Court Judge Christopher Cooper, an Obama appointee, but then about an hour later shifted the assignment to U.S. District Court Judge Richard Leon in Washington, a George W. Bush pick. The court didn’t explain the switch.