The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to rule soon on a Trump Administration attempt to get rid of a climate lawsuit brought by 21 young people against the U.S. government.
The Trump Administration requested a writ of mandamus, a rarely used legal maneuver that would null Eugene Federal Court Judge Ann Aiken’s ruling that the climate lawsuit should go to trial. Julia Olson, with Our Children’s Trust, represents the 21 youth plaintiffs. She says some of the youth are in Florida coping with the aftermath of Irma. Others in Oregon are coping with the smoke from wildfire and this ramps up the sense of urgency on climate change.
Olson: “Like Jacob down in Roseburg. And he’s been working with a mask on for many weeks this summer out on the farm in the extreme heat. So, we’re feeling it and the evidence grows each and every day.”
Olson expects to hear soon from the appeals court on the Trump Administration’s request. Meanwhile eight amicus briefs were filed in support of the youth climate lawsuit by law professors, members of the faith community and environmental groups.
