A federal magistrate judge recently allowed a group of 21 youth plaintiffs to proceed with a lawsuit charging the federal government with neglecting their constitutional rights by failing to act on climate change.
Clayton Aldern provides the latest news in a youth uprising that might soon get its day in federal court. Aldern provides the background on the lawsuit in question:
Last month, in Eugene, Ore., 21 youth plaintiffs argued why their case should proceed to trial. The kids allege that by failing to act on climate change, the U.S. government — including the president and a handful of federal agencies — have violated several of their constitutional rights.
A March article also by Aldern provides more details of the lawsuit, which hinges on a claim to equal protection and due process provisions in the Fifth Amendment. Though the Justice Department recently filed a motion arguing for the case's dismissal, the magistrate's recommendation earlier this month paves the way for a hearing for a lawsuit in a district court.
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