NATALIE R. V. STATE OF UTAH
On September 19, 2023, attorneys for the youth plaintiffs filed their opening brief in the Utah Supreme Court, explaining why the lower court’s dismissal of their case should be reversed so that they can proceed to trial to present evidence of their constitutional claims. On February 20, 2024, the state filed its response to the youth’s opening brief and on April 22, 2024, the youth plaintiffs filed their reply brief to the Supreme Court arguing why their case should proceed to trial. The parties are now waiting for the court to schedule a hearing where both parties will present oral arguments to Utah’s highest court later this year.
Current Status
On March 15, 2022, seven youth from across the state of Utah filed their constitutional climate lawsuit against the state of Utah, Natalie R. v. State of Utah. The case argues that, through its statutory policy to maximize, promote, and systematically authorize the development of fossil fuels in Utah, the State is actively causing and contributing to Utah’s hazardous air quality and dangerous climate crisis impacts, harming the young plaintiffs and violating their state constitutional rights to life, health, and safety.
The youth plaintiffs claim that their state government has long known of the dangers of fossil fuels yet has continued to take affirmative actions that worsen air pollution and the climate crisis in the Beehive State, resulting in increasingly hazardous air quality and climate impacts that directly harm Utah’s children.
The youth plaintiffs are represented by Andrew Welle with Our Children’s Trust and Andrew Deiss, John Robinson, and Corey Riley with Deiss Law PC.
major moments timeline
The following is a timeline of major moments, filings, and rulings in Natalie R. v. State of Utah, from March 15, 2022 to today: