Boulder Climate-Liability Case Opens Supreme Court Term

The Supreme Court will hear Boulder’s climate-liability suit on October 5, focusing on whether federal law preempts state-law claims against fossil-fuel companies. Justice Alito’s confirmed recusal, following scrutiny of energy-sector holdings, disclosure, and a reported change from an earlier recusal position, raises judicial-ethics and institutional-credibility concerns and leaves open the possibility of a consequential 4-4 result.