Federal Judge Dismisses Disney's First Amendment Lawsuit Against DeSantis

A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit brought by Disney against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. The media company had filed a federal lawsuit alleging a "targeted campaign of government retaliation" by DeSantis and the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District (CFTOD) board, which was appointed by the governor. The lawsuit was in response to Disney's opposition to Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law, which limits discussions on sexual orientation and gender identity in early education. The judge ruled that Disney does not possess the legal standing to challenge the governor or the CFTOD.

In a similar vein, a lawsuit filed by pro-Palestinian student groups against DeSantis was also dismissed by a federal judge. The groups had alleged that a state deactivation order, which they claimed stifled free speech and amounted to viewpoint discrimination, was invalid. The judge dismissed the case on the grounds that the groups had not established standing, despite being labeled as 'terrorists' by DeSantis in his statements.

Despite these setbacks in federal court, Disney's challenge to regain control of the district that includes Walt Disney World continues in state court in Orlando. The company has expressed its intention to "press forward" with the legal battle. The recent federal court ruling aligns with DeSantis's position that Disney is not entitled to a special government for its properties, but the ultimate outcome of Disney's legal efforts remains to be determined by the state court proceedings.