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ARTICLE · 16 JULY 2021

Environmental Cases At The Supreme Court: October Term 2020

Winston Taylor
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During the recently concluded October Term 2020, the Supreme Court decided a number of cases significant to environmental practitioners.

United StatesEnvironment
Jonathan D. Brightbill
Jonathan D. Brightbill
Stephanie Sebor
Stephanie Sebor

During the recently concluded October Term 2020, the Supreme Court decided a number of cases significant to environmental practitioners. Several of the Court's decisions may have far-reaching implications. Below we provide a brief synopsis of each decision.

Biden v. Sierra Club
In a dispute over funding for President Trump's border wall, the Sierra Club alleged, among other things, that the wall would have adverse environmental impacts. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California held that it was unlawful for President Trump to use his emergency powers to divert billions of dollars in military construction funds to finance the border wall. The Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's decision, and the Trump administration sought review by the Supreme Court. The case had been set for oral argument on February 22, 2021.

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