On Tuesday, a panel of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear arguments in a lawsuit against the federal government over climate change. The 21 young people who are suing the government hope to get their case to trial.
The case was set to go to trial last fall, but it was delayed when the Justice Department asked the U.S. Supreme Court to grant a stay. It will be up to the 9th circuit whether the case finally gets heard at trial. Andrea Rodgers is a senior attorney with the Eugene non-profit, Our children’s trust, she represents the young plaintiffs, age 11 to 23.
Rodgers: “These kids are very anxious to be able to put on the evidence from 23 of the world’s foremost climate experts and energy experts. We’re ready to go to trial and we’re hoping that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals will pave our way to get there.”
The hearing takes place in Portland. A rally of supporters of the youth plaintiffs is planned and a live stream of the court proceedings will be shown in Director’s park.
