Judge in Mont. TikTok Ban Case Orders ‘Detailed Accounting’ of Discovery Sought

Each party in the two consolidated cases that challenge the constitutionality of SB-419, Montana’s statewide TikTok ban, must submit by Feb. 15 “a detailed accounting of the individuals or entities from which it seeks to obtain discovery,” said an order signed Monday (docket 9:23-cv-00061) by U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy for Montana in Missoula. For each individual or entity listed, the party must explain why that information “is necessary and pertinent to this litigation,” said the order. The information is needed for the court “to determine how best to exercise its broad discretion over discovery,” it said. Molloy’s Nov. 30 opinion and order granted the plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction blocking Montana from enforcing SB-419 on First Amendment grounds (see 2312010003), and Attorney General Austin Knudsen (R) is appealing that decision to the 9th U.S. Circuit Appeals Court (see 2401030007).