A group of 20 Democratic state attorneys general filed a constitutional small on Monday, asking the Supreme Court to step in and get the U.S. Supreme Court to order an order to stop fossil fuel firms from suing Hawaii for their alleged role in causing global warming.
20 position attorneys general argued in an amicus curiae “friend of the jury” small that the City and County of Honolulu’s lawsuit against numerous fossil fuel companies is” an affront to the similar sovereignty” of the several other states. The work is supported by the lawyers general of Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Texas, Utah, and Wyoming.
Fossil fuel firms have filed lawsuits in Hawaii’s position jury system, alleging they have misled the public about climate change’s problems for years. The fossil fuel companies ‘ claims that such dispute is preempted by national legislation because it seeks to control interstate pollution and commerce were rejected in the Hawaii state Supreme Court’s decision in October.
Sunoco LP and Shell PLC have filed a petition to have their case reviewed in recent months.
The 20 Democratic state prosecutors general’s amicus brief urges the Supreme Court to accept the complaint filed by the coal gas firms, arguing that their state also have a vested interest in the outcome.
The Republican attorneys general point out that the plaintiffs who are suing geological fuel firms in the state of Hawaii are attempting to prevent those fossil fuel firms from encouraging the use of their energy items, even in other states. According to the lawyers public, a decision from the Pacific jury system “would impair access to affordable electricity and inculpate every position and every person on the planet.”
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” If Hawaiians want to concentrate on renewable energy, I have no problem with that”, Mr. Marshall said in a Monday press statement. ” But Honolulu may push its opinions onto Alabama—or any other Express. Important decisions regarding our nation’s power scheme must be made at the provincial level, not by one lawsuit brought by one city in its own judges.
The plaintiffs in the Hawaii cases argue that the only harmful marketing practices that are targeted in their lawsuits are interstate emissions, while the Republican attorneys general’s amicus brief asserts that the lawsuits in Hawaii are inevitably related to interstate emissions.
” The case is about more than’ torts committed in Hawaii.’ If the allegations are true, Honolulu’s injuries stem from’ global warming,’ global emissions, and the global use of energy and fuel products. The amicus brief states that it is impossible to determine the source of any particular individual molecule of CO2. Therefore, halting production and sales of their products everywhere is the only way for energy companies to avoid potential liability. And any’ equitable relief, including abatement,’ would need to reach conduct everywhere to redress the alleged injuries”.
On Monday, several other organizations filed amicus briefs in support of the fossil fuel companies and pleaded with the Supreme Court to grant their petition to review the Hawaii state cases. Amicus briefs were filed by the Atlantic Legal Foundation, the American Tort Reform Association, the Washington Legal Foundation, the National Association of Manufacturers, the U. S. Chamber of Commerce, and a group of fossil fuel industry associations.
Retired U. S. Air Force Gen. Richard Myers and U. S. Navy Adml. On Monday, Michael Mullin, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Michael Mullin both submitted an amicus brief, contending that the legal case raises questions of national security.
” As federal courts have recognized, petroleum products have been’ crucial to the national defense,’ including but by no means limited to ‘ fuel and diesel oil used in the Navy’s ships, and lubricating oils used for various military machines,'” reads the brief by the two retired U. S. military officers.
A City and Council of Honolulu spokesperson said they would respond to the petitioners ‘ arguments in court and declined to comment further on the matter. NTD News asked for comment.
By May 1, the City and County of Honolulu is anticipated to submit its response.
Reuters contributed to this article.
