Judge Rules AT&T Can Acquire Time Warner

One of the most significant antitrust rulings of recent decades

WASHINGTON—A federal judge ruled Tuesday that AT&T Inc. can proceed with its planned acquisition of Time Warner Inc., rejecting the Justice Department’s allegations that the deal would suppress competition in the pay-TV industry.

U.S. District Judge Richard Leon announced his decision in a packed courtroom, ruling that antitrust enforcers at the Justice Department hadn’t proven their case against the merger.

“I...