A Supreme Court justice has recused himself from a landmark climate case scheduled for oral arguments, withdrawing without providing a reason despite having previously supported the court’s decision to hear the dispute. The move comes amid scrutiny over the justice’s extensive financial ties to the oil and gas industry, which include direct investments in fossil fuel companies—a rare conflict for a judge overseeing a case with major implications for environmental policy. Legal experts are now questioning whether the recusal could shift the balance of the court’s conservative majority, which has faced criticism for its handling of climate-related legal challenges. The case, centered on federal regulations tied to greenhouse gas emissions, has drawn widespread attention as a potential turning point in how the judiciary addresses climate change.
Justice Samuel Alito on Monday recused from a major climate case set to be heard next week, stepping aside with no explanation after previously participating in the vote to take up the dispute. Alito has long held financial interests in the oil and gas sector, and as one of the only justices to own individual...
