Samuel Alito recuses from Suncor v. Boulder climate liability case

Key Points:

• Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from the climate change liability case Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County just days before oral arguments, without publicly explaining his decision.
• The case questions whether Boulder, Colorado, can sue oil and gas companies under state tort law for their role in climate change, drawing criticism from Republicans who view it as a tactic to bypass elected officials.
• Legal experts emphasize that the dispute centers on the role of courts in policymaking rather than climate science itself, noting that Alito's recusal, while uncommon, is a personal decision unlikely to alter the case outcome.
• Alito's recent recusal follows a previous one due to stock ownership conflicts, while Justice Elena Kagan faces calls to recuse herself over perceived bias linked to her involvement with a climate science reference manual.
• More than a dozen legal groups have urged an investigation into Kagan’s impartiality, citing concerns over her ethical obligations in the case.