Supreme Court term begins Climate case and new docket

Oct 5

David Spunt reports the Supreme Court's new term beginning with a hearing on whether federal law blocks state and local climate-liability suits against oil and gas companies. He describes the companies' preference for federal court and the Trump administration's support. Alito has recused himself; critics cite his energy-company stock holdings. An archival Alito interview calls retirement speculation unpleasant and expected without announcing retirement. Spunt previews religious-liberty, gun, voting, executive-power and third-country-deportation cases and discusses Democrats' hopes of limiting a future Trump appointment if a vacancy arises. The report announces neither a climate-case judgment nor an actual judicial vacancy.

At the opening of its October 5 term, the Supreme Court hears a case concerning federal-law limits on state and local climate-liability suits against oil and gas companies. Fox reports the companies' preference for federal court, administration support and Alito's recusal, with critics citing his energy-sector stock holdings. The report announces no ruling.