Julia Olson, Our Children’s Trust press conference following hearing before Judge Aiken
Channel: Our Children's Trust #youthvgov
Date: 2016-09-22

Twenty-one youth plaintiffs, and Dr. James Hansen, filed a lawsuit in 2015 against the United States, seeking to secure their constitutional and public trust rights to a stable climate. Three trade associations, representing the fossil fuel industry, intervened to protect their right to continue to pollute. Both the government and the trade associations filed motions to dismiss to throw the youth’s case out of
court. They lost. In April, U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin recommended that all the motions to dismiss should be denied, paving the way for the case to move forward. However, both the government and fossil fuel industry objected to Judge Coffin’s findings and recommendations.

On Tuesday, September 13, 2016, U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken heard oral arguments on those objections from lawyers representing all of the parties.

This video is from a press conference on the courthouse steps following the hearing. Speakers at the press conference included: 

Philip L. Gregory of Cotchett, Pitre & McCarthy, LLP.; Daniel M. Galpern, Esq.; Kelsey, Jacob, Jayden, Avery, Victoria, Alex, Journey, Xiuhtezcatl - youth plaintiffs in the case; and Julia A. Olson, Wild Earth Advocates, and Exec. Dir. & Chief Legal Counsel, Our Children’s Trust.

Video compliments of: TheClimateMobilization.org.

Find out more about Our Children's Trust at ourchildrenstrust.org