Climate in the Courts

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Montana Youth Climate Trial

Montana Defendants Claim Trial Judge "Had No Authority" To Rule On Historic Youth Climate Case

Montana Defendants Claim Trial Judge "Had No Authority" To Rule On Historic Youth Climate Case

In August 2023, Montana District Court Judge Kathy Seeley issued what has been described as a “landmark” and “historic” win for the sixteen young people who sued their state government over a policy that bans regulators from even considering climate change in routine environmental impact assessments. Following a seven-day trial

Montana Youth Activists Win Historic Climate Change Lawsuit

Montana Youth Activists Win Historic Climate Change Lawsuit

Story originally published in DeSmog A Montana court ruled in favor of 16 young people who put their state government on trial in June in the first constitutional climate trial in U.S. history. In an order issued Monday, Judge Kathy Seeley in the First Judicial District Court of Montana

In Montana, A Landmark Legal Challenge Over Climate Change

In Montana, A Landmark Legal Challenge Over Climate Change

Story originally published in The New Lede For 20-year-old college student Olivia Vesovich, climate change is not a future concern. It’s a current and near-daily crisis. “Climate change has impacted my ability to breathe,” Vesovich testified from the witness stand of a Montana courtroom last week. The college student,

Montana’s Narrow Defense In Youth Climate Trial Was Devoid Of Climate Science

Montana’s Narrow Defense In Youth Climate Trial Was Devoid Of Climate Science

Story originally published in DeSmog The historic youth climate trial in Montana concluded today ahead of schedule, after the state presented a condensed defense on Monday that steered clear of disputing climate science. It also excluded testimony from witnesses it had previously planned to call upon, including a neuropsychologist who

‘The State Has One Job’ Montana Teen Tells Court In Historic Youth Climate Trial

‘The State Has One Job’ Montana Teen Tells Court In Historic Youth Climate Trial

At the conclusion of his testimony and the end of the youth plaintiffs’ week-long presentation of personal stories backed by scientific evidence, 18-year-old Lander Busse spoke directly to Montana’s state government, with assistant attorneys general sitting in the courtroom at the defense side of the table. “I don’t

Court Hears Expert Testimony About How Montana ‘Doubled Down On Fossil Fuels’ And Became ‘Outright Hostile’ To Clean Energy

Court Hears Expert Testimony About How Montana ‘Doubled Down On Fossil Fuels’ And Became ‘Outright Hostile’ To Clean Energy

Story originally published in DeSmog Montana “has recognized climate change as a growing concern for decades,” Anne Hedges, director of policy and legislative affairs at the Montana Environmental Information Center, testified to a Montana court on Thursday. Despite this, the state has never denied a permit for any fossil fuel-related

In Court Testimony, Climate Scientists Rebuke Montana For Support Of Fossil Fuels

In Court Testimony, Climate Scientists Rebuke Montana For Support Of Fossil Fuels

Story originally published in DeSmog “We have been warning about the dangers posed by climate change for decades,” climate scientist Cathy Whitlock testified to a Montana court on Tuesday, “and yet Montana continues to aggressively pursue an expansion of fossil fuel utilization and production.” Whitlock is one of a number

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