Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recused himself on Monday from a significant climate-change case following scrutiny over his stock holdings in oil companies. This decision comes just before the court is set to hear a case filed by local officials in Boulder, Colorado, against Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil.
Background
The recusal letter did not specify a reason, but it is noted that Justice Alito has previously stepped aside from cases involving companies in which he holds stock. The letter stated, "Justice Alito has determined that he will not continue to participate in this case."
This case is part of a broader wave of lawsuits alleging that fossil-fuel companies have misled the public regarding the impact of fossil fuels on climate change. Billions of dollars in damages could potentially be at stake.
Case Details
The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from the energy companies, which is supported by the Trump administration. The companies argue that these lawsuits pose a serious threat to the industry and assert that state courts are not the appropriate venue for addressing the global issue of climate change.
