De-escalation: Alito Recuses Himself From Climate Case

Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from Suncor Energy v. County Commissioners of Boulder County on Monday. The court’s clerk notified the parties by letter that he will not continue to participate and gave no reason. Argument is set for Oct. 5.

The move reverses his earlier stance that he did not need to step aside. He had faced pressure to recuse because he owns stock in oil companies, and he flew on the private jet of an investor in a company involved in the dispute. The case, involving Suncor and Exxon Mobil, could determine whether local governments can pursue fossil fuel companies for climate damages and affect dozens of similar lawsuits.

AI-synthesized from multiple reported sources