JULIANA VS US TIMELINE
The landmark lawsuit, Juliana v. US, was filed by 21 young people claiming that the government’s actions, and inaction, in the face of global warming violate their “fundamental constitutional rights to freedom from deprivation of life, liberty, and property.”
Dubbed the climate “trial of the century,” the case began in 2015 and has overcome a multitude of hurdles despite relentless efforts by the Trump administration to halt its progress. The children are aging and the majority of them can now vote.
A list of court orders and additional information can be found at Our Children’s Trust, the non-profit responsible for this and many other youth climate cases across the country. Julia Olson is their Chief Legal Counsel.
A youth led climate justice organization, Zero Hour, launched a drive in February 2019 to support this lawsuit. In eleven days 30,000 young people added their names to a Young People’s Brief in Support of the Juliana plaintiffs. This “friend of the court” brief was filed with the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals on March 1, 2019.
On January 17, 2020, a divided federal court, having heard the case in June 2019, concluded that the plaintiffs do not have standing. With one out of three judges dissenting, it is likely that Our Children’s Trust will go forward and appeal. A stunning summary by Joel Stronberg is here and a collection of videos about the case by Youth v. Gov here.
The timeline below marks all the major events from the first filing to the present.

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National and Global Experts File Briefs in Support of Juliana v. United States
The briefs argue the judicial branch has a responsibility to protect the youth’s constitutional rights, the children have legal standing to be heard at trial, and urgent action by the court is critical for the…
More Here03/12/2020
Support comes from scholars and experts, including 24 Members of U.S. Congress
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Young Climate Plaintiffs Seek Second Chance in Federal Court
To grant rehearing, a majority of the Ninth Circuit’s 29 active judges would have to agree to review the panel decision, and then a pool of 11 would hear arguments and issue a new decision.
More Here03/02/2020
Plaintiffs want a new panel of judges to reconsider the issues
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A divided federal court concluded the plaintiffs do not have standing
The environmental trial of the century now looks as if it is not meant to be. The young plaintiffs and their attorneys have announced their intention to petition for an en banc hearing by the…
More Here01/17/2020
Judge Staton presented the dissenting opinion
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Judges Give Both Sides a Grilling in Youth Climate Case Against the Government
Three federal judges heard arguments Tuesday about whether young people have a constitutional right to be protected from climate change. In the lively, hourlong hearing, the judges, from the Court of Appeals for the Ninth…
More Here06/04/2019
A federal appeals court heard arguments
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To ‘secure a livable future,’ 30,000 youth urge court to let landmark climate suit go to trial
“We are filing the Young People’s brief to show that thousands of youth across America not only feel the urgency of climate action, but also understand that the youth climate lawsuit must proceed to secure…
More Here03/01/2019
30,000 youth sign on to brief supporting the lawsuit
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The kids suing the government over climate change want to halt fossil fuel extraction
If the injunction is granted, it would lead to a nationwide moratorium on new fossil fuel permitting and leasing on federal lands and waters until the lawsuit is resolved.
More Here02/27/2019
Youth file new injunction to stop new fossil fuel leases
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Government Says Kids Have No Right to Sue Over Climate Change
The latest brief presented no new arguments by the government.
More Here02/04/2019
Administration files yet another brief to the Court of Appeals
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Government challenge to kids’ case moves forward
The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday granted government lawyers permission to appeal lower court decisions allowing Juliana v. United States to move to trial.
More Here12/27/2018
Ninth Circuit grants Interlocutory Appeal and denies Mandamus
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Landmark Children’s Climate Lawsuit Hits New Roadblock
Judge Ann Aiken issued an order certifying Juliana v. United States for interlocutory appeal to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. In staying the case pending a decision by the Ninth Circuit, Judge Aiken maintained…
More Here11/21/2018
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to decide Whether Juliana vs. United States Goes to trial
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Another Delay in Children’s Climate Lawsuit, Days After U.S. Supreme Court Allowed It to Proceed
The Department of Justice filed a motion for stay with the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon and hours later filed an application for stay and another petition for a writ of mandamus…
More Here11/05/2018
Administration files yet another motion
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Supreme Court Rejects White House Move To Block Teens’ Climate Change Lawsuit
“Even the most powerful government in the world must follow the rules,” a supporter of the plaintiffs said.
More Here11/02/2018
Supreme Court Denies Trump Administration’s Request
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Why Is the U.S. Government So Motivated to Avoid the Kids’ Climate Case?
The Trump administration has filed its sixth mandamus request and second to the Supreme Court in yet another attempt to stop the case from going to trial.
More Here10/18/2018
Administration files another petition with Supreme Court
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Judge Denies Government Motions to Dismiss Youth Climate Case
In her ruling on Monday, Aiken rebuked claims by the Trump administration that the suit falls under the Administrative Procedures Act. As a result, the case will proceed to trial on 10/29/18.
More Here10/15/2018
Court largely denies Trump administration motions
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Justice Department asks Supreme Court to toss kids’ climate change lawsuit
A third writ of mandamus petition seeks an unprecedented and extraordinarily rare third request, just over a week before it is scheduled to go to trial.
More Here10/12/2018
Administration pleads with the Ninth Circuit for the third time
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Supreme Court Refuses to Halt Kids Climate Case
The Supreme Court denied the federal government’s request to halt discovery and the trial in the youth climate lawsuit Juliana v. United States. The court’s rejection means the case will likely proceed to trial on…
More Here07/30/2018
Supreme Court rules in favor of Youth
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Children’s Climate Lawsuit Heads to Trial: Court Rejects Trump Attempt to Block It
The Court ruled that the Juliana case can proceed toward trial and that the Trump administration had not satisfied the factors necessary for a writ of mandamus.
More Here03/07/2018
Ninth Circuit rules in favor of Youth
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Here’s what’s at stake for the 21 kids suing the Trump administration over climate change
Arguments before the Ninth Circuit will decide whether the case goes to trial. The decision will determine if the Trump administration can evade a constitutional climate change trial.
More Here12/11/2017
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals hearing
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Appeals Court Takes Up Youth Climate Change Lawsuit Against Trump
Oral arguments will be heard before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on 12/11/17.
More Here11/16/2017
Ninth Circuit to hear oral argument regarding trial dismissal
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An appeals court just pressed pause on the much-watched youth climate lawsuit against Trump
Ordering a stay on the lawsuit’s proceedings is a rare move: courts of appeal typically don’t get involved in lower courts’ affairs until the proceedings have progressed to trial, or at least “to a point…
More Here07/25/2017
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals orders temporary stay
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Our Children’s Trust Climate Lawsuit Scheduled For Trial On February 5
U.S. Magistrate Judge Thomas Coffin set the trial date before U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken in Eugene, Oregon.
More Here06/28/2017
Trial date set
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Trump Administration Keeps Trying To Get Rid Of Teen Climate Case
The Administration’s latest move is a rarely used legal maneuver. They are seeking another review of the 11/10/16 decision by Judge Ann Aiken which allowed the case to continue.
More Here06/09/2017
Administration files writ of mandamus petition
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Fossil fuel groups try to flee landmark climate lawsuit before it goes to trial
The groups had been ordered to submit to the court their responses to several key questions pertaining to the case, including their position on the science behind climate change. Instead of filing their response, all…
More Here05/22/2017
Defendants file motions to withdraw
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Trump tries to keep 21 kids’ climate change lawsuit from going to trial
One motion isn’t enough for Trump’s administration – they filed one to put off trial preparation too. They argued that the request for records relating to climate change and communications between the government and the…
More Here03/07/2017
Administration files expedited appeal to overturn and delay
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Children’s Climate Lawsuit Aims to Unearth Documents From Oil Group API
The fossil fuel industry claimed a “lack of sufficient knowledge to admit or deny” over 75% of the factual allegations in lawsuit. Youth filed a request for documents from the largest U.S. trade group for…
More Here02/28/2017
Youth request records and answers
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Donald Trump Faces Lawsuit From Local Teen Over Climate Change
Youth file a notice with a federal court in Oregon, naming Donald J. Trump as a defendant. President Trump is substituted as named party in place of former President Barack Obama under the Federal Rules.
More Here02/09/2017
President Trump named as Defendant
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Trump could face the ‘biggest trial of the century’ — over climate change
Federal Judge Ann Aiken rejects U.S. government and fossil fuel industries motions to dismiss. Now, the 21 plaintiffs, who range in age from 9-20, are preparing for trial in what is believed to be a…
More Here11/10/2016
Motions to dismiss denied
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Climate 21 Kids Put the Planet on the Docket
U.S. District Court Judge Ann Aiken heard oral arguments from lawyers representing all of the parties prior to making a determination about whether the case will go to trial.
More Here09/13/2016
Court hears oral arguments
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Kids clear key hurdle in their federal climate change lawsuit
Judge Thomas Coffin of the District Court in Eugene, Oregon, ruled in favor of the Youths, characterizing the case as an “unprecedented lawsuit” addressing “government action and inaction” resulting “in carbon pollution of the atmosphere,…
More Here04/08/2016
Motions to dismiss denied
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Big oil lines up to battle kids in climate court case
The trade associations that represent Exxon, Mobil, Shell, Koch Industries, virtually all other U.S. refiners and petrochemical manufacturers, and 625 oil and natural gas companies are named as defendants.
More Here01/14/2016
Fossil fuel defendants named
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21 Youths File Landmark Climate Lawsuit Against Federal Government
The lawsuit against the U.S. government argues that, in causing climate change, the federal government has violated the youngest generation’s constitutional rights to life, liberty, property and has failed to protect essential public trust resources.
More Here
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