Attorneys for 21 youth who are suing the federal government over climate change will submit their arguments to the U.S. Supreme Court Monday. They’re asking for a trial to go forward after the court temporarily blocked it last week.
The order issued Friday by Chief Justice John Roberts freezes the trial set to start next week in U.S. District Court in Eugene. Attorney Julia Olson represents the youth plaintiffs. She says the tactics used by the Trump Administration and Department of justice to avoid a trial are unprecedented.
“We’ve never seen a case go three petitions for a writ of mandate to the 9th circuit.” Olson says, “Two petitions for a writ of mandate now to the Supreme Court. Really trying to bypass the ordinary judicial process.”
The lawsuit claims the federal government has violated young people's constitutional rights through policies that have encouraged use of fossil fuels. They say their generation bears the brunt of climate change and the government has an obligation to protect natural resources for present and future generations.
