A campaign led by far-right fossil fuel allies is urging the Supreme Court to shield oil companies from lawsuits seeking billions in climate damages.
Dharna Noor reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Allies of Leonard Leo, who helped select Trump’s Supreme Court nominees, are pressuring the court to dismiss state-led climate lawsuits against big oil.
- The Supreme Court is reviewing a petition from oil companies to overturn a Hawaii ruling allowing a climate case to proceed.
- The campaign includes opinion pieces and briefs from conservative groups and Republican state attorneys general.
Key quote:
“I have never, ever seen this kind of overt political campaign to influence the court like this.”
— Patrick Parenteau, professor at Vermont Law School
Why this matters:
The push to dismiss these climate lawsuits highlights the significant influence of right-wing networks on the judiciary. If successful, it could undermine efforts to hold fossil fuel companies accountable for their role in climate change.
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