Activists plan to gather Monday in front of the Eugene Federal Courthouse on the day a landmark climate trial was scheduled to begin. That trial has been put on hold by the Supreme Court.
21 youth ages 11 to 22 are suing the government because they say it encourages an energy system that has led to climate change. They say climate change violates their constitutional rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Kelsey Juliana of Eugene is the named plaintiff in the lawsuit.
Juliana: “I’m just so fired up. The government, they’re trying their darndest to not get to trial because they know they have no case and I’m just so ready.”
On October 19th, Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts granted the government’s request for a stay on the trial. The Trump Administration claims it will be irreparably harmed if it has to go to trial due to the cost of litigation. The youth plaintiffs filed a brief in response a week ago. They’re converging on the federal courthouse for a rally while they wait to hear from SCOTUS on whether the trial can go forward.
