Press Release
Federal Judge Dismisses Youth Climate Lawsuit
October 16, 2025
(Anchorage, AK) – The U.S. District Court for the District of Montana dismissed with prejudice a case, Lighthiser v. Trump, filed by climate activists in a lawfare challenge to President Donald Trump’s Executive Orders governing our nation’s energy policies.
The State of Alaska intervened alongside Montana, 18 other states and the U.S Territory of Guam in defense of President Trump’s energy policies.
“We want to thank the State of Montana for leading this charge,” said Alaska Attorney General Stephen Cox. “The Judge rightly recognized that the United States Constitution doesn’t give federal courts the authority to dictate national energy policy. These kinds of lawsuits are fundamentally political—and like the Judge said, the plaintiffs should seek redress through their elected officials and the electoral process instead. Alaska stands firmly behind President Trump’s approach to responsible energy and resource development, which we believe will benefit all Alaskans.”
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Department Media Contact: Information Officer Sam Curtis at sam.curtis@alaska.gov or (907) 269-6269.
Due to resource constraints, we no longer post links to referenced records. Records filed in a federal court are readily available at Docket Search or PACER, and records filed in a State of Alaska court are readily available from the Alaska Court System (Trial Courts - Alaska Court System and Search for an Appellate Case). Contact Sam Curtis to request a referenced record that is not readily available from a court or on the internet, or contact law.recordsrequest@alaska.gov to submit a formal Alaska Public Records Act request.