Influence of Environmental Activists on Courts Under Scrutiny

Why it Matters

A House panel will examine the influence by environmental activists on federal courts at a hearing on Nov. 19, "A Climate Of Bias: How Environmental Activists Influence The Judiciary." The session will take place before the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property, Artificial Intelligence and the Internet, led by chair Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA-48) and ranking member Rep. Hank Johnson Jr. ​

The hearing follows an interim staff report that House Judiciary Republicans released Sept. 30, titled "How Radical Environmental Special Interests Manipulate the Federal Judiciary." The committee's release says the report concerns the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and its Climate Judiciary Project.

Broader Context

Climate litigation is also before the Supreme Court. The justices heard argument Oct. 5 in Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County, which asks whether a Colorado climate-damages lawsuit against energy companies may proceed or is barred by federal law.