Disney v. DeSantis judge called Florida governor's law 'dystopian'

When attorneys for Florida Governor Ron DeSantis appear in court to defend against Walt Disney Co's (DIS.N) lawsuit that accuses the Republican official of weaponizing state government, they will see a familiar face, if not always a welcome one.

U.S. District Judge Mark Walker in Tallahassee has struck down several laws that defined DeSantis' conservative political agenda, including statutes that sought to limit the speech of college professors, curtailed protests and restricted voting access.

Walker was nominated to the federal court by former President Barack Obama, a Democrat.

Disney sued DeSantis on Wednesday to block a state law that created an oversight board that Disney said will interfere with billions of dollars of planned development.

The feud between the global entertainment giant and a likely candidate for the 2024 presidential election started last year, when Disney criticized a law signed by DeSantis that banned classroom instruction on gender identity and sexual orientation for younger children.