Updated 1w+ ago · Politics
Justice Alito Recuses Himself From Major Climate Case
Justice Samuel Alito will not participate in a major climate case the Supreme Court hears October 5. The court's clerk informed the parties Monday in a letter that offered no explanation.
- Alito holds stock in ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, plus five other energy firms.
- Neither Exxon Mobil nor Suncor Energy — the two defendants — appear in his holdings.
- In May, a court spokesperson told NBC News his recusal was not required.
- Alito also did not participate when the court rejected an earlier appeal in the same case in 2023.
Why it matters: The case asks whether Boulder, Colorado, may sue Exxon and Suncor under state tort law for climate-related damages, or whether federal law blocks such suits.
- A broad ruling favoring the companies could halt dozens of similar state and local lawsuits nationwide.
- With Alito out, the remaining eight justices could split 4-4, leaving the key legal questions unresolved.
How 45 sources split on this story
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45 sources · 49 articles · 49% Right coverage
Where they split: The central disagreement is whether Alito's indirect financial exposure to companies outside the case was sufficient grounds for recusal.
Center coverage, 9 sources: The center presents the recusal as a procedural development, noting Alito's earlier 2023 step-aside and the case's potential to reshape climate litigation broadly.
Reuters1w+US Supreme Court's Alito won't participate in climate case involving oil companiesAssociated Press1w+Alito steps aside in a major climate case after scrutiny over oil stock holdingsCNBC1w+Supreme Court Justice Alito will not participate in big climate change case next weekForbes1w+Samuel Alito Recuses From Major Supreme Court Case After Fossil Fuel Investments Come Under FireNewsweek1w+Justice Alito steps aside from major Supreme Court climate caseRealClearPolitics1w+Justice Alito's Climate Case RecusalThe Hill1w+Alito recuses from case that could toss climate suits against oil companiesUSA Today1w+Supreme Court Justice Alito steps aside from landmark climate change caseYahoo News1w+US Supreme Court's Alito won't participate in climate case involving oil companies
Left coverage, 14 sources: The left frames the recusal as a reversal driven by sustained pressure from watchdog and environmental groups, and flags years of concern about Alito's financial ties to the energy sector.
CNN1w+Justice Alito recuses himself from major climate change case after complaints about his oil and gas holdingsNBC News1w+In reversal, Justice Samuel Alito steps aside from major climate caseRaw Story1w+Rattled WSJ board demands to know 'what changed' after Justice Alito's surprise recusalABC News1w+Alito steps aside in a major climate case after scrutiny over oil stock holdingsCBS News1w+Alito recuses from major climate change case to be decided by the Supreme CourtEsquire1w+Why the Hell Is Justice Alito Excused from a Key Supreme Court Decision Next Week?HuffPost1w+Alito Steps Aside In A Major Climate Case After Scrutiny Over Oil Stock HoldingsMSNBC1w+Justice Alito surprisingly recuses from climate change case ahead of new termPolitico1w+Alito bows out of blockbuster Supreme Court climate caseThe Boston Globe1w+Justice Alito steps aside in climate case over his oil stock holdingsThe Guardian1w+Samuel Alito steps aside in a major climate case amid scrutiny over oil stock holdingsThe New Republic1w+Samuel Alito Does the Right Thing for a ChangeThe New York Times1w+Justice Alito Recuses Himself Days Before Major Climate-Change CaseTruthout1w+Alito Reverses Course, Announces Recusal From Major Corporate Fossil Fuels Case
Right22 sources
BizPac Review1w+Could Alito’s recusal change the outcome of landmark climate case?The Daily Caller1w+Could Alito’s Recusal Change The Outcome Of Landmark Climate Case?The Epoch Times1w+Justice Alito Recuses in Supreme Court Climate Case Involving Oil CompaniesBreitbart News1w+Justice Alito Recuses Himself from Major Climate Lawsuit Against Oil CompaniesCitizen Free Press1w+Justice Alito mysterious recusal.Daily Mail1w+Justice Alito makes abrupt U-turn on major Supreme Court caseFox News1w+Supreme Court climate showdown jolted by Alito's last-minute decisionHot Air1w+Justice Alito Recuses Himself From Climate Change CaseIndependent Journal Review1w+Justice Alito Recuses from Major Climate CaseJust the News1w+Alito recuses self in climate suitNewsmax1w+Justice Alito Steps Aside From Major US Climate CasePJ Media1w+Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Recuses Himself From a Major Climate CaseReason1w+As Suncor Approaches, Justice Alito RecusesThe Center Square1w+Alito will not participate in pivotal climate change caseThe Daily Signal1w+Alito Steps Aside in Supreme Court Climate Showdown After Left-Wing Groups Question His Energy Investments - The Daily SignalThe Gateway Pundit1w+In Surprise Move, Supreme Court Justice Alito Recuses From Blockbuster Climate Case * The Gateway Pundit * by Cristina LailaThe Right Scoop1w+BREAKING REVERSAL: Justice Alito RECUSES from major climate case...The Washington Times1w+Justice Alito recuses from major climate-change case to be heard next weekThe Western Journal1w+Justice Samuel Alito Surprises by Recusing Himself from First Supreme Court Case of New TermWashington Examiner1w+Justice Alito recuses himself from major Supreme Court climate change caseWND1w+Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recuses himself from landmark climate case * WorldNetDaily * by Paris Apodaca, Daily Caller News FoundationZeroHedge1w+Justice And Justices' Investments Should Be Blind: The Alito Controversy Raises Persistent Problem On The Court
What’s next: Oral arguments are scheduled for October 5, the first day of the court's new term.
- The court has not said whether a replacement justice will be designated.
- Why did Alito change his position after the court said in May his recusal was not required?
- Would a 4-4 tie bind only the lower court's ruling or set broader precedent?
- Will the oil companies or Boulder officials seek any procedural response to the recusal?
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