Justice Alito recuses himself from major US climate case amid scrutiny over oil stock holdings

US Supreme Court justice Samuel Alito said on Monday he will no longer take part in a major climate-change case, following calls for his recusal over his personal stock holdings in oil companies.

A letter filed in the case did not give a specific reason but stated that Alito has determined he will not continue to participate. He has previously recused himself from other cases involving companies in which he holds stock.

Case against oil majors

The recusal comes just before the court is set to hear a case filed by local officials in Boulder, Colorado, against Suncor Energy and ExxonMobil. It is one of dozens of similar lawsuits accusing companies of misleading the public about fossil fuels' role in driving climate change, with potentially billions of dollars in damages at stake.

The Supreme Court agreed to hear an appeal from the companies, which is backed by the Trump administration. The energy firms argue the lawsuits threaten the industry and that state courts are the wrong venue for addressing the global issue of climate change.

Conflict-of-interest concerns

Alito had previously resisted calls to step aside from the case, which the court agreed in February to hear. He does not hold stock in Suncor Energy or ExxonMobil, but his disclosures show he owns shares in other oil companies, including ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66.

The advocacy group Consumer Watchdog argued this meant Alito could indirectly benefit from a ruling favoring the industry. The group's organizing director, Alexandra Nagy, cited the court's recently adopted code of ethics, which states a justice should recuse if they or their family have a stake in the matter at hand. She said in a statement that Alito's recusal from the case was the right call, and one he should have made from the outset.