Residents of Morton County received pro-Energy Transfer mailers just before the company’s trial against Greenpeace, raising concerns about potential juror bias.
Emily Sanders reports for DeSmog.
In short:
- Kelcy Warren, Energy Transfer CEO, donated $5 million to a super PAC, which then funded a publication critical of Dakota Access protests.
- Morton County residents received the mailer decrying protesters and praising Energy Transfer ahead of the trial involving Greenpeace.
- Greenpeace is requesting further investigation into whether this influenced potential jurors and compromised the trial's fairness.
Key quote:
“We’re filing this motion and seeking this discovery because I think this court would agree there’s nothing more sacred in the legal system than the right to a fair, impartial jury, and every lawyer knows that direct efforts to influenc[e] the jury pool are not okay.”
— Everett Jack, Greenpeace attorney
Why this matters:
Efforts to sway public perception ahead of legal trials threaten the integrity of the justice system. If fossil fuel companies use strategic lawsuits and media influence to suppress dissent, it could erode protections for environmental and social activism.
Related: Fossil fuel companies push back on climate activism through legal crackdowns
