Justices weigh climate lawsuits' fate
9h
The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on oil companies’ bid to block climate lawsuits, leaving unclear whether Boulder, Colorado, can pursue its case against ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy.
During yesterday's SCOTUS argument, CJ Roberts & other conservatives were more concerned about a flood of lawsuits than the literal floods that climate change unleashes. They thus were sympathetic to blocking the Colorado case based on what I call the "dormant Nothing Clause." Details on the blog. 👇
www.dorfonlaw.org
October 6, 2026 at 11:18 AM
During yesterday's SCOTUS argument, CJ Roberts & other conservatives were more concerned about a flood of lawsuits than the literal floods that climate change unleashes. They thus were sympathetic to blocking the Colorado case based on what I call the "dormant Nothing Clause." Details on the blog. 👇
“the age of accountability for the fossil fuel industry has just begun and has a bright future. The reason for that is the emergence of a powerful field of climate science known as attribution science.”
Opinion | The Science That Has Oil Companies Running Scared (Gift Article)
However the U.S. Supreme Court rules, the work of holding oil companies accountable for climate change has a bright future.
www.nytimes.com
October 6, 2026 at 9:52 AM
“the age of accountability for the fossil fuel industry has just begun and has a bright future. The reason for that is the emergence of a powerful field of climate science known as attribution science.”
Reposted by James Goodwin
wrote about today's oral argument in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, a case in which accountability for climate change turns on Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett pretending not to understand the difference between a lawsuit and a state law
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
October 5, 2026 at 11:37 PM
wrote about today's oral argument in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, a case in which accountability for climate change turns on Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett pretending not to understand the difference between a lawsuit and a state law
slate.com/news-and-pol...
slate.com/news-and-pol...
This is a great overview of today's Suncor oral arguments
October 5, 2026 at 11:35 PM
This is a great overview of today's Suncor oral arguments
"Several justices pressed the idea that a tort suit is regulation by another name." This was horrifying. legal-planet.org/2026/10/05/t...
The Arguments We Did and Didn't Hear in Suncor v. Boulder - Legal Planet
Oral arguments in the climate case before the Supreme Court gave hints to possible outcomes. But one argument went largely unmade.
legal-planet.org
October 5, 2026 at 11:17 PM
"Several justices pressed the idea that a tort suit is regulation by another name." This was horrifying. legal-planet.org/2026/10/05/t...
"Befitting an institution with vast power over the public despite historically low public support, the court’s opening case this term is about elite impunity...." 🔥🔥🔥 slate.com/news-and-pol...
Just One GOP Justice Needs to Flip for Big Oil to Face Climate Accountability. Welp.
The Supreme Court officially began its new term on Monday morning with oral argument in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County.
slate.com
October 5, 2026 at 11:12 PM
"Befitting an institution with vast power over the public despite historically low public support, the court’s opening case this term is about elite impunity...." 🔥🔥🔥 slate.com/news-and-pol...
Today’s oral argument on Boulder’s climate change lawsuit was very complicated. Here’s a sad truth though: big business almost always wins in the Roberts Court.
That’s not complicated-tragic-but not complicated.
That’s not complicated-tragic-but not complicated.
October 5, 2026 at 9:42 PM
Today’s oral argument on Boulder’s climate change lawsuit was very complicated. Here’s a sad truth though: big business almost always wins in the Roberts Court.
That’s not complicated-tragic-but not complicated.
That’s not complicated-tragic-but not complicated.
Reposted by James Goodwin
As the federal government’s response to the climate crisis ranges from disinterest to disdainful, state and local governments have had to ask: Can’t anyone do anything about this harm? slate.trib.al/xQYxZpg
Just One GOP Justice Needs to Flip for Big Oil to Face Climate Accountability. Welp.
The Supreme Court officially began its new term on Monday morning with oral argument in Suncor Energy v. Boulder County.
slate.trib.al
October 5, 2026 at 9:40 PM
As the federal government’s response to the climate crisis ranges from disinterest to disdainful, state and local governments have had to ask: Can’t anyone do anything about this harm? slate.trib.al/xQYxZpg
Reposted by Eric J. Segall, James Goodwin
In #Suncor oral args in #SCOTUS today, the oil companies lawyer began with an obvious lie--that a lawsuit for damages was regulation & Boulder's lawyer began with an obvious truth--that damage suits have always been allowed regardless of where damages were initiated.
EVERYTHING else was commentary
EVERYTHING else was commentary
October 5, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Reposted by James Goodwin
NEW: Oil companies face a skeptical SCOTUS in their effort to stop Boulder’s climate change lawsuit.
With Justice Alito recused, eight justices questioned if they should be hearing the case and pushed back on Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil’s broad constitutional arguments.
Today, at Law Dork:
With Justice Alito recused, eight justices questioned if they should be hearing the case and pushed back on Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil’s broad constitutional arguments.
Today, at Law Dork:
Oil companies face a skeptical SCOTUS in their effort to stop Boulder’s climate change lawsuit
With Justice Alito recused, eight justices questioned if they should be hearing the case and pushed back on Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil’s broad constitutional arguments.
www.lawdork.com
October 5, 2026 at 8:15 PM
NEW: Oil companies face a skeptical SCOTUS in their effort to stop Boulder’s climate change lawsuit.
With Justice Alito recused, eight justices questioned if they should be hearing the case and pushed back on Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil’s broad constitutional arguments.
Today, at Law Dork:
With Justice Alito recused, eight justices questioned if they should be hearing the case and pushed back on Suncor Energy and Exxon Mobil’s broad constitutional arguments.
Today, at Law Dork:
Reposted by Henry Jones
How Big Oil Bought the Supreme Court to Shield Polluters: Follow the money. Suncor v. Boulder will decide whether the American people and their local and state governments can sue Big Polluters for the harms of climate change.
thedemlabs.org/2026/10/05/s...
@gailwaldby.bsky.social
thedemlabs.org/2026/10/05/s...
@gailwaldby.bsky.social
October 5, 2026 at 7:48 PM
How Big Oil Bought the Supreme Court to Shield Polluters: Follow the money. Suncor v. Boulder will decide whether the American people and their local and state governments can sue Big Polluters for the harms of climate change.
thedemlabs.org/2026/10/05/s...
@gailwaldby.bsky.social
thedemlabs.org/2026/10/05/s...
@gailwaldby.bsky.social
Reposted by David Johnson
Lawsuits against fossil fuel companies are our best hope to stop climate change from getting worse, so this Supreme Court case is really about the habitability of our planet.
October 5, 2026 at 6:18 PM
Lawsuits against fossil fuel companies are our best hope to stop climate change from getting worse, so this Supreme Court case is really about the habitability of our planet.