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ClimateQuiet 8d · day 15

Supreme Court hears Big Oil's bid to kill Boulder's climate liability suit

Justices opened their new term with oral arguments on whether Boulder, Colorado can sue Suncor and ExxonMobil in state court over climate damages.

newest coverage 7d agosummary written 8d ago318 pieces9.4k likes & upvotes363 comments NewswiresBlueskyMastodonYouTubeGoogle NewsReddit

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What to know

  • The case, Suncor Energy v. Boulder County, could decide whether dozens of climate liability suits filed by cities and counties nationwide can proceed in state courts.
  • Justice Alito recused himself just before arguments over fossil-fuel stock holdings; a 4-4 split would leave the Colorado Supreme Court's pro-Boulder ruling standing but without national precedent.
  • Industry representatives say the claims are inherently about interstate and global emissions that belong under federal, not state, jurisdiction; Boulder argues it deserves a state-court trial on local harms like the 2021 Marshall fire.
  • Billions of dollars are at stake, with comparisons being drawn to prior landmark litigation against Big Tobacco and opioid makers.

The dispute Whether this is fundamentally a climate-accountability case or a broader fight over state courts' power to hold any industry liable for harm. · positions read across 55 posts and comments

most voices

Oil companies must be held financially accountable for climate damage and deception, and Congress/courts should act accordingly.

  • “Of course. The Supreme Court kicked off its new term today by hearing oil companies' attempt to throw out a lawsuit seeking to make them pay for climate damage they caused.”

    altnps.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
some voices

The case's reach extends beyond climate, threatening states' broader power to hold companies liable for harm and deception.

  • “Legal experts tell me oil companies' Supreme Court bid to stop this case could reach way further than climate, threatening states' historic ability to hold companies accountable for deception and harm to their residents.”

    emdashsanders.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
some voices

Alito's late recusal and the court's questioning could meaningfully tilt the outcome, and is itself notable.

  • “Justice Alito's absence in today's climate case at the Supreme Court could be significant”

    lawrencehurley.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗

Aaron Brockett Boulder MayorClaire Levy Boulder County CommissionerPhil Goldberg Lawyer, Manufacturers' Accountability ProjectSteve MarshallSteve Marshall Alabama Attorney GeneralSamuel AlitoSamuel Alito Supreme Court JusticeChris Van HollenChris Van Hollen U.S. SenatorJason CrowJason Crow U.S. Representative (crow.house.gov)

Supreme Court hears Big Oil's bid to kill Boulder's climate liability suit
nbcnews.com

How it unfolded 5 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesvideosposts

Peak 78 pieces in 4h at Oct 5, 8 AM; 318 pieces over 15 days (186 articles · 13 videos · 119 posts) Sep 29, 8 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Sep 29, 12 PM — quietSep 29, 4 PM — quietSep 29, 8 PM — quietSep 30, 12 AM — quietSep 30, 4 AM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Bluesky 1, Newswires 1Sep 30, 8 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Sep 30, 12 PM — quietSep 30, 4 PM — quietSep 30, 8 PM — quietOct 1, 12 AM — quietOct 1, 4 AM — 3 pieces · 3 articles — Newswires 3Oct 1, 8 AM — 2 pieces · 2 articles — Newswires 2Oct 1, 12 PM — quietOct 1, 4 PM — quietOct 1, 8 PM — quietOct 2, 12 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 2, 4 AM — 4 pieces · 2 articles · 2 posts — Newswires 2, Mastodon 2Oct 2, 8 AM — 5 pieces · 4 articles · 1 video — Newswires 4, YouTube 1Oct 2, 12 PM — 4 pieces · 3 articles · 1 video — Newswires 3, YouTube 1Oct 2, 4 PM — 6 pieces · 3 articles · 3 posts — Mastodon 2, Google News 2, Newswires 1, +1 moreOct 2, 8 PM — quietOct 3, 12 AM — quietOct 3, 4 AM — 22 pieces · 13 articles · 1 video · 8 posts — Google News 9, Mastodon 5, Bluesky 4, +2 moreOct 3, 8 AM — 4 pieces · 1 article · 3 posts — Bluesky 2, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 3, 12 PM — 2 pieces · 1 article · 1 post — Newswires 1, Bluesky 1Oct 3, 4 PM — 6 pieces · 6 posts — Bluesky 3, Mastodon 3Oct 3, 8 PM — 2 pieces · 2 posts — Bluesky 2Oct 4, 12 AM — quietOct 4, 4 AM — 27 pieces · 15 articles · 12 posts — Newswires 11, Mastodon 8, Bluesky 5, +1 moreOct 4, 8 AM — 11 pieces · 6 articles · 1 video · 4 posts — Newswires 6, Bluesky 2, Reddit 1, +2 moreOct 4, 12 PM — 10 pieces · 4 articles · 6 posts — Bluesky 5, Google News 2, Newswires 2, +1 moreOct 4, 4 PM — 5 pieces · 5 posts — Mastodon 3, Bluesky 2Oct 4, 8 PM — 10 pieces · 5 articles · 5 posts — Mastodon 5, Newswires 4, Bluesky 1Oct 5, 12 AM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 5, 4 AM — 50 pieces · 27 articles · 23 posts — Newswires 24, Mastodon 19, Bluesky 7Oct 5, 8 AM — 78 pieces · 59 articles · 4 videos · 15 posts — Newswires 55, Bluesky 9, Mastodon 6, +3 moreOct 5, 12 PM — 31 pieces · 16 articles · 2 videos · 13 posts — Newswires 16, Mastodon 8, Bluesky 3, +2 moreOct 5, 4 PM — 20 pieces · 10 articles · 3 videos · 7 posts — Newswires 9, Mastodon 5, YouTube 3, +2 moreOct 5, 8 PM — 1 piece · 1 article — Newswires 1Oct 6, 12 AM — quietOct 6, 4 AM — 8 pieces · 5 articles · 3 posts — Newswires 4, Mastodon 3, Google News 1Oct 6, 8 AM — quietOct 6, 12 PM — quietOct 6, 4 PM — quietOct 6, 8 PM — quietOct 7, 12 AM — quietOct 7, 4 AM — quietOct 7, 8 AM — quietOct 7, 12 PM — quietOct 7, 4 PM — quietOct 7, 8 PM — quietOct 8, 12 AM — quietOct 8, 4 AM — quietOct 8, 8 AM — quietOct 8, 12 PM — quietOct 8, 4 PM — quietOct 8, 8 PM — quietOct 9, 12 AM — quietOct 9, 4 AM — quietOct 9, 8 AM — quietOct 9, 12 PM — quietOct 9, 4 PM — quietOct 9, 8 PM — quietOct 10, 12 AM — quietOct 10, 4 AM — quietOct 10, 8 AM — quietOct 10, 12 PM — quietOct 10, 4 PM — quietOct 10, 8 PM — quietOct 11, 12 AM — quietOct 11, 4 AM — quietOct 11, 8 AM — quietOct 11, 12 PM — quietOct 11, 4 PM — quietOct 11, 8 PM — quietOct 12, 12 AM — quietOct 12, 4 AM — quietOct 12, 8 AM — quietOct 12, 12 PM — quietOct 12, 4 PM — quietOct 12, 8 PM — quietYesterday, 12 AM — quietYesterday, 4 AM — quietYesterday, 8 AM — quietYesterday, 12 PM — quietYesterday, 4 PM — quietYesterday, 8 PM — quietToday, 12 AM — quiet 1–5
Sep 30Oct 2Oct 4Oct 6Oct 8Oct 10Oct 12now · 2:48 AM ET
  1. 5

    Legal commentators call the justices 'conflicted' on the case's scope

    CNN, PBS NewsHour and CBS broadcast coverage described a divided bench grappling with federal preemption versus state tort law, with 26 Republican-led states and Alabama AG Steve Marshall backing the oil companies.

    “The Supreme Court appeared conflicted Monday about how it will resolve a lawsuit from Boulder, Colorado that is attempting to hold two fossil fuel companies responsible for the impacts of climate change.”
    — CNN
    1. 8 outlets Supreme Court weighs whether to limit climate change suits in first case of new term

      first by NY Post, 8d ago · also NYT, Orlando Sentinel, Mercury News, Baltimore Sun, CBS News, El Pais English +1

      4 more headlines
    • altnps.bsky.social

      Of course. The Supreme Court kicked off its new term today by hearing oil companies’ attempt to throw out a lawsuit seeking to make them pay for climate damage they caused. The outcome could determine whether similar lawsuits brought by cities and counties across the country can move forward.

      altnps.bsky.socialBluesky8d ago4.5k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 7 posts in this stretch
    • Breedlov@mastodon.sdf.org

      I’m all for this. If a # corporation causes climate change to make more # profit it needs to be penalized. # Greed is a powerful motivator to do bad things & these entities need to be held responsible for the damage they cause. It is the only thing that will hold them in check. # climatechange # globalwarming # globalweirding # SCOTUS https://www…

      Breedlov@mastodon.sdf.orgMastodon7d ago2▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • vanhollen.senate.gov

      Around the country, Americans are fighting back to ensure that big polluters pay for the harm they cause. SCOTUS should hold polluters accountable & Congress should pass my Polluters Pay bill to make Big Oil pay for their climate mess, not you.

      vanhollen.senate.govBluesky8d ago1.9k▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  2. 4

    Senators and lawmakers back Boulder, push polluter-pay legislation

    Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Sen. Ed Markey and Rep. Jason Crow publicly backed Boulder's case, with Van Hollen tying it to his proposed Polluters Pay bill and Crow citing an amicus brief he filed supporting the county.

    “Big Oil is at the Supreme Court today facing accountability for decades of deception and harm to our climate.”
    — markey.senate.gov
    1. 26 outlets New Supreme Court term begins with justices stumped by climate change case

      first by NBC News, 8d ago · also HuffPost, Houston Public Media, NPR, Scripps News, Associated Press, Baltimore Sun +19

      22 more headlines
    2. 16 outlets US supreme court hears big oil’s bid to block climate damage lawsuits

      first by The Guardian, 8d ago · also LA Times, Chicago Tribune, LA Times California, Guardian, The Daily Caller, The Washington Sun +9

      9 more headlines
    • markey.senate.gov

      Big Oil is at the Supreme Court today facing accountability for decades of deception and harm to our climate. We know that no court can deliver all the justice that communities deserve but the Supreme Court can start by having these corporations pay their share of the climate crisis’ costs.

      markey.senate.govBluesky8d ago120▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch

    • Supreme Court wrestles with energy companies' bid to block major climate-change lawsuit https://www. cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court -climate-change-energy-companies-boulder-colorado-arguments/?utm_source=flipboard&utm_medium=activitypub Posted into Politics @ politics-thenewsdesk

      thenewsdesk@flipboard.comMastodon8d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • bloomberg.com

      Climate lawsuits that draw on attribution science, which gauges the role of global warming in specific disasters, hinge on a case now before the Supreme Court.

      bloomberg.comBluesky8d ago19▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  3. 3

    Industry lawyer says justices' questioning favors oil companies

    Phil Goldberg of the Manufacturers' Accountability Project said the court's focus on interstate and global emissions suggested justices may rule that climate liability belongs with federal policymakers, not state courts.

    “The justices recognized that the claims in this case go far beyond conduct in any one state, which is why this lawsuit is inherently about interstate and global emissions.”
    — Phil Goldberg
    • npr.org

      The Supreme Court is set to hear a blockbuster climate change case that could affect more than just climate issues. And, Brazil's presidential race is too close to call.

      npr.orgBluesky8d ago141▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 9 posts in this stretch
    • chrisgeidner

      Let’s do this. I’m headed back to SCOTUS. First arguments of term — in a key climate change case — are at 10a. Subscribe now to support another term of my independent legal journalism: https://www. lawdork.com/p/supreme-court-ne w-term-climate-change-case

      chrisgeidnerMastodon8d ago26▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • pbsnews.org

      Boulder County is one of dozens of jurisdictions suing oil and gas companies to help pay for damage from disasters linked to climate change. The case is part of a wave of climate change litigation across the country and the world, with billions of dollars at stake.

      pbsnews.orgBluesky8d ago126▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  4. 2

    Boulder officials and residents rally for their 'day in court'

    Boulder Mayor Aaron Brockett and County Commissioner Claire Levy spoke outside the courthouse after arguments, while environmentalists and Marshall fire survivors rallied, urging the justices to let the case proceed in state court.

    “Today, the U.S. Supreme Court heard the companies' arguments to stop our case before we ever have our day in court. We are asking the court to let us have that day, because this is not an abstract issue for Boulder.”
    — Aaron Brockett, Boulder Mayor
    • lawrencehurley.bsky.social

      Justice Alito's absence in today's climate case at the Supreme Court could be significant:

      lawrencehurley.bsky.socialBluesky8d ago34▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 5 posts in this stretch
    • douglindner.bsky.social

      SCOTUS will hear Suncor v. Boulder at 10am today. It's the biggest climate case since 2022, when MAGA Justices invented a fake constitutional "doctrine" to hamstring EPA's authority to fight climate pollution under the Clean Air Act.

      douglindner.bsky.socialBluesky8d ago25▲view on Bluesky ↗
    • bloomberg.com

      The Supreme Court is headed toward likely Trump clashes in its new term

      bloomberg.comBluesky8d ago21▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  5. 1

    Supreme Court hears oral arguments in Suncor v. Boulder

    The justices considered whether Boulder, Colorado can sue Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil in state court for costs tied to climate-driven disasters, including the 2021 Marshall fire that destroyed nearly 1,100 homes.

    “The Supreme Court grappled Monday with whether local governments can sue oil and gas companies in state court to help cover costs associated with climate change, an issue with potentially billions of dollars at stake.”
    — The Washington Post
    1. 15 outlets Supreme Court case could crimp states’ ability to sue oil and gas firms over climate change

      first by Washington Examiner, 12d ago · also WSJ Opinion, Axios, PBS NewsHour, Boston Globe, Philadelphia Inquirer, AP News +8

      12 more headlines
    2. 10 outlets Trump clashes ahead as new Supreme Court term begins

      first by NBC News, 11d ago · also Orlando Sentinel, Mercury News, Baltimore Sun, Roll Call, NPR, Yahoo +3

      6 more headlines
    4 more claims →
    • chrisgeidner.bsky.social

      NEW: The Supreme Court is starting a new term—even though SCOTUS stayed in the news all summer. The justices return to court for a key case that could block one way of confronting climate change. Tonight, at Law Dork:

      chrisgeidner.bsky.socialBluesky9d ago226▲view on Bluesky ↗
    2 more of the top 3 · 29 posts in this stretch
    • GeoWire@mastodon.social

      🔴 BREAKING Trump Faces New Supreme Court Term Amidst Policy Challenges As the new Supreme Court term begins, President Trump confronts a complex legal landscape. Despite losing major cases and openly criticizing justices, he maintains a winning record at the court. The upcoming term will critically review his immigration policies and other key…

      GeoWire@mastodon.socialMastodon11d ago1▲view on Mastodon ↗
    • emdashsanders.bsky.social

      Legal experts tell me oil companies' Supreme Court bid to stop this case could reach way further than climate, threatening states' historic ability to hold companies accountable for deception and harm to their residents. I'll be at the court tomorrow covering the arguments. Stay tuned

      emdashsanders.bsky.socialBluesky9d ago222▲view on Bluesky ↗
    all of them →
  6. background

    Justice Alito recuses from the climate liability case — Alito dropped out of hearing the case over stock ownership in other fossil-fuel companies, after earlier participating at the certiorari stage and rejecting calls to step aside.

Also covered reported alongside — the timeline has no entry for these yet

  1. 5 outlets Supreme Court Weighs Shield for Oil Companies as New Term Opens

    first by Bloomberg Politics, 12d ago · also Investing.com News, Reuters, CBS News, The Hill

    4 more headlines
  2. 4 outlets Just One GOP Justice Needs to Flip for Big Oil to Face Climate Accountability. Welp.

    first by Slate, 8d ago · also Washington Post, FT, Bloomberg Markets

    3 more headlines
  3. 4 outlets Supreme Court weighs Boulder's climate change lawsuit against oil and gas companies

    first by Denver Post, 8d ago · also PBS NewsHour, CBS News, Grist

    3 more headlines
  4. 4 outlets Voting rights, First Amendment cases ahead for Supreme Court’ new term

    first by UPI, 8d ago · also CNN, Washington Post, Philadelphia Inquirer

    2 more headlines
  5. 4 outlets Big Oil goes to US Supreme Court over pivotal climate damages claim

    first by FT, 8d ago · also PBS NewsHour, Heatmap News, ZeroHedge

    3 more headlines
  6. 2 outlets Supreme Court's new term begins today. Here's what to know.

    first by CBS News, 8d ago · also WSJ Opinion

    1 more headline
  7. 2 outlets SCOTUS hears major climate change case. And, Brazil's presidential race goes to runoff

    first by NPR News, 8d ago · also NPR

  8. 2 outlets Supreme Court Headed Toward Likely Trump Clashes in New Term

    first by Bloomberg Politics, 8d ago · also Bloomberg

  9. 2 outlets Facing climate lawsuits, Big Oil again turns to US Supreme Court

    first by Investing.com News, 13d ago · also Seeking Alpha

    1 more headline
  10. 2 outlets The Supreme Court faces another term jam-packed with controversy

    first by npr.org, 10d ago · also NPR News

and 9 smaller pieces

What people are saying 13 voices from 2 sites · best of 55 · verbatim

Still unanswered
  • Will the justices split 4-4, leaving the Colorado Supreme Court ruling intact without setting national precedent?
  • How will the ruling affect the dozens of other pending climate liability suits filed by other cities and counties?