Trial Date Set in Kids Climate Lawsuit Against U.S. Government

U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin issued an order Thursday in the climate lawsuit brought by 21 youth, Juliana v. United States, setting a trial date for Feb. 5, 2018 before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken in Eugene, Oregon.

Juliana v. United States was brought by 21 young plaintiffs and Earth Guardians who argue that their constitutional and public trust rights are being violated by the government’s creation of climate danger. The case is one of many related legal actions brought by youth in several states and countries, all supported by Our Children’s Trust, seeking science-based action by governments to stabilize the climate system.

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“Over 18 months ago, these fossil fuel associations went to incredible lengths to become defendants so that they could shut down this case,” said Julia Olson, co-lead counsel for plaintiffs and executive director of Our Children’s Trust. “They failed, and youth prevailed. Now these youth and the top climate experts on the planet can go to trial against the Trump administration.”

On June 9, the Trump administration filed a petition for writ of mandamus with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, seeking an extraordinarily rare review of a Nov. 10, 2016 decision by U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken to deny its motion to dismiss the case. The Ninth Circuit has not requested the parties to submit briefs on the government’s petition, and could deny it without doing so.