Judge Consolidates 2 Cases Against Mont. TikTok Ban, Citing ‘Common Issues of Law’

U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy for Montana in Missoula signed an order Wednesday consolidating two complaints that seek, on First Amendment and other constitutional grounds, to prevent Montana and its Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R) from banning TikTok in the state. “There being common issues of law and fact,” consolidation of the cases is “appropriate,” said the order. It designates the May 17 complaint (docket 9:23-cv-00056) filed by six Montana TikTok influencers and users (see 2305190035) as the lead case, and the May 22 complaint filed by TikTok (docket 9:23-cv-00061) as the “member” case. The complaints are consolidated for all further proceedings under the docket of the lead case, said the order. The defendants in the member case should file their answer to the complaint in the member case docket, it said. All other documents should be filed in the lead case docket, “and spread to the member case,” it said.