Pirate's Cove

The climate activist adults and groups that are certainly behind this whole thing are probably bummed

(AP) The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday temporarily blocked a high-profile climate change lawsuit brought by young activists who accuse the federal government of violating their constitutional rights with policies that have caused a dangerous climate.

Chief Justice John Roberts signed an order freezing the trial that was set to start in 10 days in federal court in Oregon until lawyers for the young people provide a response and the high court issues another order.

It marked a victory for the government, which under the Obama and Trump administrations has tried unsuccessfully for years to get the case dismissed. An expert says the Trump administration tried again before the Oct. 29 trial as the court shifted to the right with the confirmation this month of Brett Kavanaugh.

The Supreme Court refused to toss the lawsuit in July, calling it “premature.”

Justice Department lawyers asked again Thursday, arguing that the claim aims to redirect federal environmental policies through the courts rather than through the political process.

Julia Olson, a lawyer representing the young plaintiffs and chief legal counsel for Our Children’s Trust, said they are confident the trial will move forward once the justices receive their response, which is due by Wednesday.

The DOJ used a writ of mandamus, a rarely used judicial tool allowing a higher court to overrule a lower court before a verdict is made. Now we’ll wait to see if the Supreme Court will determine that the courts are not lawmakers, and policy should not be made by courts, but rather in the duly elected Legislative Branch as deemed/demanded by the Constitution.

The lawsuit wants a court to order the government to stop permitting and authorizing fossil fuels, quickly phase out carbon dioxide emissions to a certain level by 2100 and develop a national climate recovery plan.

That’s really not how our system of government should work. But, because the Cult of Climastrology hasn’t been able to convince the citizens to get Congress to do this, they want to force their beliefs on everyone via the courts. Which, really, Congress would ignore. And could lead to counter-suits from the Legislative Branch against the ordering court. If the court decides to keep pushing.

Jeffrey Wood, acting assistant attorney general for the Justice Department’s environment and natural resources division, said officials “firmly believe there is no legal basis for this case to be heard in federal court.”

The lawsuit “is an unconstitutional attempt to use a single court to control the entire nation’s energy and climate policy,” he said, according to prepared remarks for a speech he gave Friday at a conference in San Diego. “It is a matter of separation of powers and preserving the opportunity in our system of government for those policies to be decided by the elected branches, not the courts.”

I wonder how about the amount of fossil fuels that are being used to move the kids around for their heavily scripted appearances and such. Here’s a fun idea: tell the kids that they can only charge their Internet capable devices with solar power, and can only visit sites that are powered by “renewables.” Mom can no longer drive them anywhere in her fossil fueled vehicle. No more than a 2 minute shower. Handwash their clothes.

Oh, wait, we’d actually have to take away most of their smartphones and tablets, as they are made using plastic and other parts which require petroleum. Bummer.