Alito Withdraws From Climate Case Over Oil Stock Holdings

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito has recused himself from a high-profile climate-change case, following calls for him to step aside because of his holdings in oil companies.

A letter filed in the case did not give a reason for the decision. "Justice Alito has determined that he will not continue to participate in this case," it said. The conservative justice has previously withdrawn from matters involving companies in which he owns stock.

The recusal comes shortly before the court is set to hear a case brought by local officials in Boulder, Colorado, against Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil. It is one of dozens of similar lawsuits alleging that energy companies misled the public about the role of fossil fuels in climate change. Billions of dollars in damages could be at stake.

The high court agreed to hear an appeal from the companies, which is backed by the Trump administration. The energy firms argue that the lawsuits pose a serious threat to the industry and that state courts are not the proper forum for addressing a global issue like climate change.

Alito had resisted calls to step aside since the court agreed in February to take up the case. He does not own stock in Suncor Energy or ExxonMobil, but his disclosures show holdings in other oil companies, including ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66. The group Consumer Watchdog has said those holdings mean he could indirectly benefit from a ruling in the industry's favor.

Alexandra Nagy, the group's organizing director, pointed to the court's recently adopted ethics code, which states that a justice should recuse if they or their families have a "subject matter or controversy." In a statement, Nagy said Alito's withdrawal from Suncor v. Boulder was the right decision and one he should have made from the start.