Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02787/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02787-3/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 42:1983 Civil Rights Act

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Theodore H. Frank (SBN 196332)

Adam E. Schulman (admitted pro hac vice)

HAMILTON LINCOLN LAW INSTITUTE

1629 K Street NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20006

Voice: 610-457-0856

Email: adam.schulman@hlli.org

Attorneys for Plaintiff Christopher Kohls

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTOPER KOHLS,

Plaintiff,

v.

ROB BONTA, ET AL.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD

STIPULATION AND ORDER 

CONSOLIDATING CASES

Judge: John A. Mendez

THE BABYLON BEE, LLC, ET AL.

Plaintiffs,

v.

ROB BONTA, ET AL. 

Defendants.

Case No. 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD

Case 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD Document 48 Filed 10/25/24 Page 1 of 5
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STIPULATION

1. This Court recognized that the above-entitled actions are related within the 

meaning of Local Rule 123. Dkt. 44. 

2. Plaintiffs in both above-entitled actions challenge the same two California 

statutes: AB 2839 (Cal. Elec. Code § 20012) and AB 2655 (Cal. Elec. Code § 20510).

3. Plaintiffs in both above-entitled actions bring the same or similar 

constitutional claims against the same Defendants: California Attorney General Rob 

Bonta and Secretary of State Shirley N. Weber.

4. All parties in the above-entitled matters consent to consolidation of these 

actions.

NOW THEREFORE, the parties hereby STIPULATE that:

5. The above-entitled actions shall be consolidated.

DATED: October 22, 2024

s/ Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse

Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse

VA Bar No. 96040

Alliance Defending Freedom

44180 Riverside Parkway

Lansdowne, VA 20176

571-707-4655

jwidmalmdelphonse@adflegal.org

Jonathan A. Scruggs

AZ Bar No. 030505

Alliance Defending Freedom

15100 N. 90th Street

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

480-444-0020

jscruggs@ADFlegal.org

Brian R. Chavez-Ochoa

CA Bar No. 190289

Chavez-Ochoa Law Offices, Inc.

4 Jean Street, Suite 4

Valley Springs, CA 95252

209-772-3013

brianr@chavezochoalaw.com

s/ Kristin A. Liska

(authorized 10.22.24)

Rob Bonta

Attorney General of California

Anya M. Binsacca

Supervising Deputy Attorney General

Kristin A. Liska

Deputy Attorney General

State Bar No. 315994

455 Golden Gate Avenue, Suite 11000

San Francisco, CA 94102-7004

Telephone: (415) 510-3916

Fax: (415) 703-5480

E-mail: Kristin.Liska@doj.ca.gov

Counsel for Defendants Robert A. Bonta 

and Shirley N. Weber

s/ Adam E. Schulman

(authorized 10.22.24)

Adam E. Schulman

Case 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD Document 48 Filed 10/25/24 Page 2 of 5
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Counsel for Plaintiffs The Babylon Bee, 

LLC and Kelly Chang Rickert

Theodore H. Frank 

Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute

1629 K Street NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20006

610-457-0856

703-203-3848

adam.schulman@hlli.org 

ted.frank@hlli.org

Counsel for Plaintiff Christopher Kohls

Case 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD Document 48 Filed 10/25/24 Page 3 of 5
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Theodore H. Frank (SBN 196332)

Adam E. Schulman (admitted pro hac vice)

HAMILTON LINCOLN LAW INSTITUTE

1629 K Street NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20006

Voice: 610-457-0856

Email: adam.schulman@hlli.org

Attorneys for Plaintiff Christopher Kohls

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT

FOR THE EASTERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA

CHRISTOPER KOHLS,

Plaintiff,

v.

ROB BONTA, in his official capacity as 

Attorney General of the State of 

California, and SHIRLEY N. WEBER, in 

her official capacity as California 

Secretary of State,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD

ORDER CONSOLIDATING CASES

THE BABYLON BEE, LLC, and KELLY 

CHANG RICKERT,

Plaintiffs,

v.

ROB BONTA, in his official capacity as 

Attorney General of the State of 

California, et al.,

Defendants.

Case No. 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD

Case 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD Document 48 Filed 10/25/24 Page 4 of 5
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Before the Court is Plaintiffs The Babylon Bee, LLC and Kelly Chang Rickert, 

Plaintiff Christopher Kohls, and Defendants Rob Bonta and Shirley N Weber’s

stipulation to consolidate The Babylon Bee, LLC v. Bonta, No. 2-24-cv-2787-JAM-CKD, 

with Kohls v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD. Good cause appearing, the Court 

makes the following orders:

1. Pursuant to Fed. R. Civ. P. 42, the actions denominated as Kohls v. Bonta, 

et al. Case No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD and The Babylon Bee, LLC, et al v. Feldstein 

Soto, et al., Case No. 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD are hereby CONSOLIDATED;

2. Case No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD is designated as the “master file;”

3. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to add all complaints and answers 

filed in Case No. 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD to the master file;

4. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to ADMINISTRATIVELY CLOSE

Case No. 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD; and

5. The parties are DIRECTED to file all future pleadings, motions and other 

filings ONLY in Case No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD.

IT IS SO ORDERED.

Dated: October 24, 2024 /s/ John A. Mendez

THE HONORABLE JOHN A. MENDEZ

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

Case 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD Document 48 Filed 10/25/24 Page 5 of 5