Federal Judge Dismisses Youth Climate Lawsuit Challenging Executive Orders in Montana

A federal judge in Montana, Dana Christensen, dismissed the youth-led climate lawsuit Lighthiser v. Trump, which challenged President Trump's executive orders promoting fossil fuel use, citing lack of jurisdiction and the impracticality of the court monitoring federal agency actions. The plaintiffs, represented by the climate advocacy group Our Children’s Trust, argued that these policies violated their constitutional rights by exacerbating climate change harm, but the judge found that such issues should be resolved through democratic accountability rather than judicial intervention. This dismissal aligns with prior Ninth Circuit precedent from similar cases like Juliana v. United States, which denied standing to youth climate plaintiffs. Despite acknowledging the real harms posed by climate change and the effect of the executive orders, the judge concluded that the courts are not the appropriate venue to create climate policy. The plaintiffs intend to appeal the ruling, continuing their effort to seek legal protections against fossil fuel policies. Meanwhile, similar youth-led climate cases have seen mixed outcomes, with some state courts recognizing constitutional rights to a healthy environment, highlighting the ongoing legal debate over climate policy and constitutional rights.