Source: s3://data.kl3m.ai/documents/govinfo/USCOURTS/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02527/USCOURTS-caed-2_24-cv-02527-9/pdf.json

Nature of Suit Code: 440
Nature of Suit: Other Civil Rights
Cause of Action: 28:1983 Civil Rights

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Stipulation and Order to Consolidate

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Brian R. Chavez-Ochoa (CA Bar No. 190289)*

brianr@chavezochoalaw.com

Chavez-Ochoa Law Offices, Inc.

4 Jean Street, Suite 4

Valley Springs, CA 95252

Telephone: (209) 772-3013

Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse (VA Bar No. 96040)**

jwidmalmdelphonse@adflegal.org

Alliance Defending Freedom

44180 Riverside Parkway

Lansdowne, VA 20176

Telephone: (571) 707-4655

Facsimile: (571) 707-4656

Jonathan A. Scruggs (AZ Bar No. 030505)**

jscruggs@ADFlegal.org

Alliance Defending Freedom

15100 N. 90th Street

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Telephone: (480) 444-0020

Facsimile: (480) 444-0028

Counsel for The Babylon Bee, LLC

and Kelly Chang Rickert

* Local Counsel

**Admitted pro hac vice

Case 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD Document 32 Filed 12/20/24 Page 1 of 8
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Stipulation and Order to Consolidate

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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 to Consolidate

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

Rumble Inc., et al.

Plaintiffs,

v.

Rob Bonta, et al. 

Defendants.

Case No. 2:24-cv-03315-JAM-CKD

STIPULATION

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

within the meaning of Local Rule 123. Related Case Order, ECF No. 28. It 

previously ordered the Kohls v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD, and The 

Babylon Bee, LLC v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv-02787-JAM-CKD, matters consolidated.

Order Consolidating Cases, ECF No. 20.

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2. Plaintiffs in all three of the above-entitled actions challenge the same 

California statute: AB 2655 (Cal. Elec. Code § 20510). Plaintiffs Christopher Kohls, 

The Babylon Bee, LLC, and Kelly Chang Rickert also challenge AB 2839 (Cal. Elec. 

Code § 20012).

3. Plaintiffs in all three of the 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. Plaintiffs in Rumble

also bring Section 230 claims against AB 2655 and against the same Defendants.

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 for all purposes.

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DATED: December 19, 2024

s/ Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse

Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse 

VA Bar No. 96040

Alliance Defending Freedom

44180 Riverside Parkway

Lansdowne, VA 20176

Telephone: (571) 707-4655

jwidmalmdelphonse@adflegal.org 

Jonathan A. Scruggs

AZ Bar No. 030505

Alliance Defending Freedom

15100 N. 90th Street

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Telephone: (480) 444-0020

Facsimile: (480) 444-0028

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

Telephone: (209) 772-3013

brianr@chavezochoalaw.com

Counsel for Plaintiffs The Babylon 

Bee, LLC and Kelly Chang Rickert

s/ Mathew W. Hoffmann

(authorized 12.19.24)

Mathew W. Hoffmann 

VA Bar No. 100102

Philip A. Sechler 

VA Bar No. 99761 

Alliance Defending Freedom

44180 Riverside Parkway

Lansdowne, VA 20176

Telephone: (571) 707-4655

Facsimile: (571) 707-4656

s/ Kristin A. Liska

(authorized 12.19.24)

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

Facsimile: (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 12.19.24)

Adam E. Schulman

DC Bar No. 1001606

adam.schulman@hlli.org 

Telephone: (610) 457-0856

Theodore H. Frank

DC Bar No. 450318

ted.frank@hlli.org 

Telephone: (703) 203-3848

Hamilton Lincoln Law Institute

1629 K Street NW, Suite 300

Washington, DC 20006

Counsel for Plaintiff Christopher Kohls

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mhoffmann@ADFlegal.org

psechler@ADFlegal.org

Mercer Martin 

AZ Bar No. 038138

Alliance Defending Freedom

15100 N. 90th Street

Scottsdale, AZ 85260

Telephone: (480) 444-0020

Facsimile: (480) 444-0028

mmartin@ADFlegal.org

Brian R. Chavez-Ochoa 

CA Bar No. 190289

Chavez-Ochoa Law Offices, Inc.

4 Jean Street, Suite 4

Valley Springs, CA 95252

Telephone: (209) 772-3013

brianr@chavezochoalaw.com

Counsel for Plaintiffs Rumble Inc.

and Rumble Canada Inc.

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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

ORDER to Consolidate

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

Rumble Inc., et al.

Plaintiffs,

v.

Rob Bonta, et al. 

Defendants.

Case No. 2:24-cv-03315-JAM-CKD

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Before the Court is Plaintiffs Christopher Kohls, The Babylon Bee, LLC, 

Kelly Chang Rickert, Rumble Inc., Rumble Canada Inc., and Defendants Rob Bonta 

and Shirley N. Weber’s joint stipulation to consolidate Kohls v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv02527-JAM-CKD, with Rumble, Inc. v. Bonta, No. 2:24-cv-03315-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, Case No. 2:24-cv-02527-JAM-CKD and Rumble, Inc. v. Bonta, Case No. 2:24-

cv-03315-JAM-CKD are hereby CONSOLIDATED for all purposes;

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-03315-JAM-CKD to the master file;

4. The Clerk of the Court is DIRECTED to ADMINISTRATIVELY 

CLOSE Case No. 2:24-cv-03315-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: December 19, 2024 /s/ John A. Mendez

THE HONORABLE JOHN A. MENDEZ

SENIOR UNITED STATES DISTRICT JUDGE

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PROOF OF SERVICE

I hereby certify that I filed a true and accurate copy of the foregoing 

document with the Clerk of Court using the CM/ECF system, which automatically 

sends an electronic notification to all counsel of record.

 DATED this 19th day of December, 2024.

 s/ Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse

 Johannes Widmalm-Delphonse 

Counsel for Plaintiffs The Babylon

Bee, LLC and Kelly Chang Rickert

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