Montana’s highest court has scheduled oral arguments over a first-of-its-kind legal ruling that found the state had violated young people’s rights to a stable climate.
The Montana Supreme Court said Monday that it will hear arguments in the case July 10 in Helena. The hearing date is nearly one year after a lower court ruled that state lawmakers had violated the Montana Constitution by barring agencies from considering the climate effects of fossil fuel projects. The state immediately appealed the decision.
Attorneys for the young climate activists behind Held v. Montana said they look forward to defending their win.
“We are grateful to have the opportunity for the 16 Held plaintiffs to present their case to the Montana Supreme Court and remain confident in our legal arguments and in the compelling evidentiary record the court will review,” said Nate Bellinger, one of the attorneys from Our Children’s Trust, the Oregon-based law firm that represented the young challengers.
