Fair Play: Be Nice or Get Out of My Courtroom

The judge overseeing the government’s lawsuit to stop AT&T Inc. from buying Time Warner Inc. already is warning the parties to keep their cool in the high-stakes antitrust fight, guarding against the real possibility that things could get ugly.

U.S. District Judge for the District of Columbia Richard Leon has ordered the parties will meet every two weeks until the March trial date because “this is that important a matter.” His tight grip on the case signals he doesn’t want the companies or government to play behind-the-scenes games like cluttering the docket or other delay tactics.

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