Overview
- The Court granted review of ExxonMobil and Suncor’s challenge to a May 2025 Colorado Supreme Court ruling that kept Boulder’s case in state court, and ordered briefing on its own authority to take the case now.
- Boulder’s 2018 suit alleges the companies deceived the public about fossil-fuel risks and seeks billions to cover local costs tied to warming-driven wildfires, heat, floods and other impacts.
- The companies argue state-law claims are barred by federal law, including the Clean Air Act, and that a single state cannot impose liability for a global emissions problem.
- President Donald Trump’s Justice Department filed a friend-of-the-court brief supporting the companies’ position, a shift from the prior administration’s stance.
- The outcome could shape dozens of similar state and local climate cases nationwide; arguments are expected in the fall term, and EPA’s recent repeal of the endangerment finding may factor into preemption debates.