Natural Resources

In ‘monumental moment,’ Montana Supreme Court rules for youths claiming right to clean environment

The Montana Supreme Court on Wednesday struck down a state law banning consideration of greenhouse gas emissions in fossil-fuel-permitting decisions, citing a state constitutional provision that guarantees a “clean and healthful environment.”

Dec 19, 2024 9:01 AM CST

Landmark Chevron decision was overturned; what happens now?

A landmark ruling overturning Chevron deference has introduced vulnerability into the power of federal agencies—but attorneys are conflicted about the significance of the outcome, which they say may be much ado about nothing.

Oct 14, 2024 3:13 PM CDT

Bill would restore Chevron deference doctrine, create advocate to help citizens participate

A U.S. Senate bill introduced this week would codify the doctrine of Chevron deference, which allows courts to defer to agencies’ interpretations of ambiguous laws.

Jul 25, 2024 9:36 AM CDT

SCOTUS curbs agency power in ruling that ends Chevron deference; dissent dubs opinion ‘Hubris Squared’

Courts may not defer to an agency’s interpretation of a statute simply because it is ambiguous, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Friday in a decision that curbs agency power.

Jun 28, 2024 10:17 AM CDT

Family members sue networks after learning of loved ones’ deaths by seeing bodies on TV

Family members of a California couple who died in the 2022 McKinney wildfire have sued two television networks for broadcasting images of their loved ones’ bodies.

May 23, 2024 12:30 PM CDT

SCOTUS majority appears to embrace ‘Kisorizing’ or overturning Chevron deference, oral arguments indicate

Conservative justices on the U.S. Supreme Court appeared ready to limit or overturn the 1984 decision that established Chevron deference, the principle that federal courts should defer to reasonable agency interpretations of ambiguous laws, according to media coverage of oral arguments Wednesday.

Jan 18, 2024 11:05 AM CST

Supreme Court will consider overruling landmark Chevron deference decision in a fishy case

On Jan. 17, the U.S. Supreme Court will consider whether they should overrule a landmark 1984 decision often requiring courts to defer to federal agencies’ reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes.

Jan 11, 2024 10:33 AM CST

Justice Thomas has ‘serious doubts’ about binding nature of mass-tort bellwether trials

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Monday expressed his “serious doubts” about using bellwether trials in multidistrict litigation to prevent defendants from relitigating issues decided in lawsuits by different plaintiffs.

Nov 22, 2023 2:38 PM CST

Supreme Court adds second case challenging agency power that will allow Justice Jackson to participate

The U.S. Supreme Court won’t decide a challenge to Chevron deference without the participation of Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson.

Oct 16, 2023 11:58 AM CDT

Seattle settles case involving ‘rights of nature,’ a theory gaining steam in other countries

Last month, the city of Seattle settled a “rights of nature” case pending in the Sauk-Suiattle Tribal Court of Appeals that was filed on behalf of salmon harmed by dams on the Skagit River.

May 16, 2023 9:33 AM CDT

Supreme Court could limit agency power after agreeing to reconsider Chevron deference

The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to consider overruling a 1984 decision that established Chevron deference—the principle that federal courts should defer to reasonable federal agency views when Congress passes ambiguous laws.

May 1, 2023 11:51 AM CDT

‘My guns are bigger,’ judge allegedly declared before pointing Colt .45 at lawyers in courtroom

A Houston lawyer has submitted an affidavit alleging that a West Virginia judge removed a gun from a holster under his robe and pointed it at attorneys defending an energy company.

Jul 18, 2022 11:50 AM CDT

Chemerinsky: This SCOTUS term moved the law ‘dramatically in a conservative direction’

The U.S. Supreme Court's October 2021 term was one of the momentous in history. The only analogy I can think of is 1937 for its dramatic changes in constitutional law. This is the first full term with Justice Amy Coney Barrett on the high court, and we saw the enormous effects of having a 6-3 conservative majority.

Jul 7, 2022 8:46 AM CDT

Riverfront property owners can’t kayak past neighboring properties, state supreme court rules

Fossil hunters who own property along the Mazon River in Illinois can’t kayak past the homes of other riverfront property owners absent permission, the Illinois Supreme Court ruled last week.

Jun 22, 2022 10:10 AM CDT

Supreme Court backlog is the largest in percentage terms since at least 1950

More than half of the cases on the U.S. Supreme Court’s docket have yet to be decided. As of Friday, the court had 33 opinions remaining, which amounts to 53% of its argued cases this term.

Jun 3, 2022 9:37 AM CDT