We need your help urgently to save America’s Climate Case

A livable climate is our constitutional right. In Juliana v. United States, 21 youth plaintiffs are taking the federal government to court and holding them accountable for their actions that are fueling the climate crisis. For nearly a decade, the Juliana 21  have asked the courts to hear their case and recognize and enforce their rights to life and a livable climate. And for nearly a decade, their own government has abused its power and misused the law to silence them. 

They are leading America’s climate case, for all of us, and they need us with them! 

If we succeed, the youth will go to trial and they will win—and compel the United States, the BIGGEST contributor to climate change in the world, to make systemic change and phase out fossil fuels. 

Here’s what’s happening:  

The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) made their final attempt to try to “kill Juliana v. United States.” 

In an unprecedented attempt to rip the case out of the normal legal process, the DOJ abused emergency powers using a Trump Administration move known as a Petition for a Writ of Mandamus. No other case in history has faced this level of government persecution. Out of 40,000+ cases currently in front of the DOJ, these extreme legal tactics have only been used against ONE case: Juliana. 

Check out the video of former DOJ Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eric Grant as he explains that his “number one priority from day 1 was to kill Juliana v. United States.” 

On March 21, 2024, the Juliana 21 filed their FINAL request to be heard at trial in the U.S. Court of Appeals. Then on April 21st, more than 200 of you joined us in D.C. at the White House for the My Voice. My Rights. Our Future rally to #SaveJuliana. Together, we got LOUD and demanded President Biden tell his Department of Justice to go to trial and let the youth be heard! Read our blog post on the #SaveJuliana DC week and the youth plaintiffs’ visit to Congress.   

An unjust and erroneous decision! 

In an act of procedural injustice on May 1, 2024, three Trump-appointed judges, on behalf of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, erroneously granted Biden’s DOJ’s seventh petition for writ of mandamus and directed Judge Ann Aiken to dismiss Juliana v. United States.  

The petition for writ of mandamus, according to Ninth Circuit rules, shouldn’t have gone to a new three-judge panel in the first place, it should have gone to a panel that had already heard the case. The panel of Trump-appointed judges didn’t follow the rule of law and the limits Congress and the Supreme Court placed on its jurisdiction. 

The fight is not over!  

In response to the Ninth Circuit’s disregard for the rule of law and jurisdiction, the Juliana 21 filed their own petition to SCOTUS on September 12, 2024, for a writ of mandamus to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to reverse this egregious error and return the case to the district court, but on November 12, 2024, SCOTUS denied the petition. 

In addition to filing the petition for writ of mandamus, two petitions, hosted by Avaaz and Friends of the Earth US, were signed by nearly 350k intergenerational individuals asking President Biden and the U.S. Department of Justice to end opposition to Juliana proceeding to trial. On September 11, 2024, the signatures were co-delivered to the President by world renowned author and co-founder of 350.org and Third Act, Bill McKibben, and the youngest ever White House Environmental Justice advisor and Co-Founder of Waic Up, Jerome Foster II. Thank you to all of you who took action and signed the petitions!  

The youth plaintiffs also sent President Biden a letter asking him to come back to the settlement table to secure his legacy as America’s Climate President and do what’s right! 

TAKING THE CASE TO SCOTUS!

On December 9, 2024, the Juliana 21 filed a Petition for Certiorari at the U.S. Supreme Court, asking the Court to take up their case to clarify the proper role of the courts in resolving constitutional questions when children have shown that they are being injured due to government policies that cause climate change. Ensuring the courtroom doors are open to youth seeking protection of their constitutional rights is a pressing issue of national importance.  

The three-judge panel’s decision in the Ninth Circuit to grant mandamus says that courts can’t provide relief to young people in response to harms caused by the government’s fossil fuel energy policies. 

In truth, SCOTUS sets the standard on the question of declaratory relief, and the three-judge panel’s dismissal flies in the face of long-standing Supreme Court precedent, which says the courts can absolutely act to protect young people’s constitutional rights when violated by their own government.   

HERE’S WHAT YOU CAN DO:

1. JOIN THE SOCIAL MEDIA DIGITAL RALLY ON DECEMBER 10, 2024!

Let’s rally together on social media! Play your part in getting this historic case – America's climate case – back on track to trial. Join us in amplifying the voices of the Juliana 21 and youth across the nation who demand the protection of their rights.  

2. RALLY AROUND THE JULIANA YOUTH. JOIN THIS COALITION-DRIVEN EFFORT TO #SAVEJULIANA.

If you’re an organization, you can also support us by joining the #SaveJuliana coalition—that means you commit to including your organization’s name and/or logo here, and using the Partner and Supporter Toolkit above to amplify and/or launch a digital campaign on your channels. 

To join us, fill-in this FORM. In this form, let us know if you’d like to share a high-resolution copy of your logo. 

*Check out our list of partners in the #SaveJuliana Coalition below!* 

3. STAY TUNED FOR UPCOMING ACTIONS TO SUPPORT THE JULIANA YOUTH

Check back for more information on a future organizational sign-on letter or demonstration! For more information, contact Liz Lee at liz@ourchildrenstrust.org.