Clarence Thomas is in the hot seat for Supreme Court’s biggest climate case in years

The Supreme Court hears arguments Monday in Suncor Energy v. Boulder, its most consequential climate case in nearly twenty years, and Justice Clarence Thomas may be a surprise swing vote. At issue is whether states and cities can make oil companies pay for harm tied to climate change, or whether federal law bars such suits. Because dozens of other local governments have filed similar claims, the ruling could reshape the industry's legal exposure, according to CNN.

Boulder, Colorado, and its county want billions of dollars for fires and floods they attribute to rising temperatures, and they accuse Exxon and the Canadian company Suncor of misleading the public. The companies respond that emissions cross state lines, making the issue a federal one, and warn that a patchwork of suits would work like a carbon tax that could bankrupt the energy sector. President Donald Trump's administration backs the companies.

Thomas has generally opposed environmental rules, yet he and Justice Neil Gorsuch have repeatedly resisted letting federal law override state law without clear direction from Congress. Exxon's lawyers cited both men six times in their filings. Earthjustice's Kirti Datla argues consistency should favor Boulder.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN →