Disney is arguing before Circuit Judge Margaret Schreiber that any decision in state court would be moot since the Republican-controlled Legislature already has passed a law voiding the agreements. If the judge decides not to dismiss the state case, the entertainment giant is asking that the state court case be put on hold until a federal lawsuit in Tallahassee is resolved since they cover the same ground and that lawsuit was filed first.

In that case, Disney sued DeSantis and his appointees to the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District in an effort to stop the takeover, claiming the governor was violating the company’s free speech and “weaponizing the power of government to punish private business.”

The DeSantis appointees on the district’s board are asking that their case not be dismissed, telling the judge that it isn’t moot and putting it on hold would be improper.

[Seems a bit like complaining, “Mom, he hit me back,” but Disney may get some traction suggesting that the federal lawsuit proceed first. But if the state complaint is moot thanks to the legislature, wouldn’t that also be true of the federal complaint too? At least we can take this lesson: Despite Bob Iger’s admission this week, it’s clear that Disney’s attorneys want to play out the string on their Reedy Creek Shuffle. — Ed]