A federal court has scheduled a hearing for July 16, 2026, to address an emergency motion filed by 12 state attorneys general seeking to temporarily halt Paramount's proposed merger with Warner Bros.Discovery.

The states argue that the merger violates antitrust laws and have requested a temporary restraining order (TRO) to pause the transaction while their lawsuit proceeds.U.S.District Judge P.Casey Pitts, appointed by President Joe Biden, was assigned the case, with the hearing set for 10 a.m.PT.

The states warn that without a ruling by July 22, the merger could proceed, as the European Union is expected to finalize its decision on the deal around that time.The U.S.Justice Department had already approved the merger.Paramount's legal team has expressed confidence in closing the deal on time despite ongoing litigation.The case highlights growing regulatory scrutiny of major media consolidations, with state attorneys general emphasizing potential market harm.This development adds to existing legal challenges, including a separate lawsuit by the Writers Guild of America seeking to block the merger.The court's decision could have significant implications for the entertainment industry's media landscape.