US Supreme Court's Alito won't participate in climate case involving oil companies
XOM•Justice Samuel Alito will not participate in the Supreme Court case involving Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy over a Boulder, Colorado, climate lawsuit. The case, set for October 5, could affect dozens of state and local climate-related lawsuits against fossil fuel companies.
1. Alito steps aside
A Supreme Court official notified the parties that Alito had determined he would not continue to participate in the case. The official’s letter gave no reason for the decision.
2. Case could affect lawsuits
The justices will consider whether federal law precludes state-law claims seeking damages for harms allegedly caused by greenhouse gas emissions, and whether the court has jurisdiction to hear the case at this stage. The Trump administration has backed Exxon and Suncor, arguing federal law precludes Boulder’s claims.
