Supreme Court
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Supreme Court ruling on elections puts concept of any kind of reform into doubt
In a ruling today, the Supreme Court rolled back campaign finance laws to the pre-Watergate era: Sweeping aside a century-old understanding and overruling two important precedents, a bitterly divided Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that the government may not ban political spending by corporations in candidate elections. The ruling was a vindication, the majority said, […]
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The courts weigh in: states win critical round in fight to slow global warming
With all attention focused elsewhere, a key federal court handed climate and clean energy advocates a major surprise victory yesterday. In the case, State of Connecticut v. American Electric Power Co. [pdf], the Second Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that a group of eight states, three land trusts and New York City could sue some […]
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Supreme Court justices say the darnedest things
During the widely-watched Supreme Court re-argument Wednesday morning of Citizens United v. Federal Election Coalition – a case that challenges the constitutionality of over a century of campaign finance laws restricting corporate spending during elections – the Justices’ varying opinions on corporations were on full display. While some, notably Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Stephen Breyer, […]
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Mainstream greens applaud Sotomayor confirmation
Justice Sonia SotomayorPhoto: White HouseEnviros are cheering for brand-new Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday on a 68-31 vote. Well, make that many enviros, not all. “We congratulate Justice Sotomayor on her historic confirmation to the high court, where her extensive experience will serve her well,” said Sierra […]
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Sotomayor endorsement is an embarrassment
If there was ever a time when the U.S. Supreme Court requires a passionate, articulate and unabashed voice for the environment — another William O. Douglas — that time is now. Should Waxman-Markey die in the Senate and the EPA be forced to regulate carbon emissions, the matter will likely land before the Justices and […]
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Enviros back Sotomayor for Supreme Court
Sonia SotomayorGreen groups are throwing their weight behind Sonia Sotomayor, President Obama’s nominee to the Supreme Court, even though she doesn’t have much of a record on environmental decisions and hasn’t always ruled in favor of enviros. More than 60 environmental and Native American groups — including the Sierra Club, Earthjustice, Greenpeace USA, the League […]
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West Va. Supreme Court affirms toxic coal silo as wonderful playground
While coal may now be the official rock of West Virginia, it might soon become the official school vegetable, too. Call it organic clean coal. On the heels of being reprimanded by the US Supreme Court this week for allowing one of its Massey coal company-bankrolled justices to refuse to recuse himself on Massey coal-related […]
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Obama Supreme Court pick has small but solid record on environmental rulings
President Obama today selected Sonia Sotomayor as his first nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. If confirmed, she would become the first Latin American and only the third woman to sit on the highest court in the land. The hot topic of conversation surrounding her nomination is affirmative action, but over in Gristland, we’re wondering, […]
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Judge Sonia Sotomayor on energy & environment
President Obama has chosen federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor for the Supreme Court. The African American Environmentalist Association has an extended discussion of her energy and environmental views, reprinted below: Judge Sonia Sotomayor [above] wrote an opinion in Riverkeeper v. EPA, 475 F.3d 83 (2d Cir. 2007), that the EPA was not permitted to engage […]
