(../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/1c0e6d4324e96672.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/1c0e6d4324e96672.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/favicon.ico)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/favicon-16x16.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/favicon-32x32.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/favicon-96x96.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-precomposed.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-57x57.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-60x60.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-72x72.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-76x76.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-114x114.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-120x120.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-144x144.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-152x152.png)  (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/apple-icon-180x180.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/manifest.json)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/android-icon-36x36.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/android-icon-48x48.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/android-icon-72x72.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/android-icon-96x96.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/android-icon-144x144.png)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/cdnassets/projects/ramen/favicon/nbcnews/all-other-sizes-PNG.ico/android-icon-192x192.png)                                   In reversal, Justice Samuel Alito steps aside from major climate case     (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/reversal-justice-samuel-alito-steps-major-climate-case-rcna600318)                              (https://nodeassets.nbcnews.com/jwplayer/jwplayer-8.30.1/jwplayer.js)    (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/assets/header-footer/1.260.0/news/header.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/assets/header-footer/1.260.0/news/header.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/assets/header-footer/1.260.0/news/footer.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/assets/header-footer/1.260.0/news/footer.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/1355633cf540aa61.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/1355633cf540aa61.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/5ed278d242ca4b20.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/5ed278d242ca4b20.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/1ac85fda50d5f6bb.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/1ac85fda50d5f6bb.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/805c9ae03113d007.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/805c9ae03113d007.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/92e9f9d903bf4462.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/92e9f9d903bf4462.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/85ba3db7a4002ffb.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/85ba3db7a4002ffb.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/ca05ba448e3cf30f.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/ca05ba448e3cf30f.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/c0892ce102d0826a.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/c0892ce102d0826a.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/65bed2d9da1adac4.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/65bed2d9da1adac4.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/33f2c2ca9727ddc0.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/33f2c2ca9727ddc0.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/c009bb8fc342b6f3.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/c009bb8fc342b6f3.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/88e816192f5d84ef.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/88e816192f5d84ef.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/f37547a32ae14320.css)  (../../nodeassets.nbcnews.com/_next/static/css/f37547a32ae14320.css)          IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.  Skip to Content   (https://www.nbcnews.com)        NBC News Logo               (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics) Politics   (https://www.nbcnews.com/us-news) U.S. News   (https://www.nbcnews.com/world) World   Local  (https://www.nbcnews.com/new-york) New York  (https://www.nbcnews.com/los-angeles) Los Angeles  (https://www.nbcnews.com/chicago) Chicago  (https://www.nbcnews.com/dallas-fort-worth) Dallas-Fort Worth  (https://www.nbcnews.com/philadelphia) Philadelphia  (https://www.nbcnews.com/washington) Washington, D.C.  (https://www.nbcnews.com/boston) Boston  (https://www.nbcnews.com/bay-area) Bay Area  (https://www.nbcnews.com/miami) South Florida  (https://www.nbcnews.com/san-diego) San Diego  (https://www.nbcnews.com/connecticut) Connecticut      (http://www.nbcnews.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.nbcnews.com/business) Business   (https://www.nbcnews.com/health) Health   (https://www.nbcnews.com/tips/) Tipline   (https://www.nbcnews.com/select) Shopping  (https://www.nbcnews.com/select/shopping/early-october-prime-day-deals-2026-rcna597786) Early Prime Day Deals         (https://www.nbcnews.com/subscribe) Subscribe  ()                        Share & Save —                                        For You (https://www.nbcnews.com/subscriber/articles) Subscriber Hub (https://www.nbcnews.com/profile/saved) Saved (https://www.nbcnews.com/profile/newsletters) Newsletters  Settings (https://www.nbcnews.com/profile/details) Profile (https://www.nbcnews.com/profile/preferences) Preferences (https://www.nbcnews.com/profile/subscription) Subscription       Search (Search NBC News) Search        Sections (https://www.nbcnews.com/us-news) U.S. News   (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics) Politics   (https://www.nbcnews.com/world) World   (https://www.nbcnews.com/business) Business   (http://www.nbcnews.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.nbcnews.com/investigations) Investigations   (https://www.nbcnews.com/culture-matters) Culture & Trends   (https://www.nbcnews.com/health) Health   (https://www.nbcnews.com/science) Science   (https://www.nbcnews.com/tech-media) Tech   (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/weather) Weather   (https://www.nbcnews.com/video) VIDEO   (https://www.nbcnews.com/photos) Photos   (https://www.nbcnews.com/games/sudoku) Sudoku   (https://www.nbcnews.com/select) NBC Selected   (https://www.nbcnews.com/asian-america) NBC Asian America   (https://www.nbcnews.com/nbcblk) NBC BLK   (https://www.nbcnews.com/latino) NBC Latino   (https://www.nbcnews.com/nbc-out) NBC OUT     Local (https://www.nbcnews.com/new-york) New York   (https://www.nbcnews.com/los-angeles) Los Angeles   (https://www.nbcnews.com/chicago) Chicago   (https://www.nbcnews.com/dallas-fort-worth) Dallas-Fort Worth   (https://www.nbcnews.com/philadelphia) Philadelphia   (https://www.nbcnews.com/washington) Washington, D.C.   (https://www.nbcnews.com/boston) Boston   (https://www.nbcnews.com/bay-area) Bay Area   (https://www.nbcnews.com/miami) South Florida   (https://www.nbcnews.com/san-diego) San Diego   (https://www.nbcnews.com/connecticut) Connecticut     tv (https://www.today.com/) Today   (https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-news) Nightly News   (https://www.nbcnews.com/meet-the-press) Meet the Press   (https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline) Dateline     Featured (https://www.nbcnews.com/watch) NBC News Now   (https://www.nbcnews.com/nightly-films) Nightly Films   (https://story.snapchat.com/p/8bb879c7-45c0-499c-bb3c-7a3d0e229301/347654839924736) Stay Tuned   (https://www.nbcnews.com/specials) Special Features   (https://www.nbcnews.com/newsletters) Newsletters   (https://www.nbcnews.com/podcasts) Podcasts   (https://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbc-news-now-live-audio-listen-live-news-audio-day-rcna70163) Listen Now   (https://www.nbcnews.com/business/business-in-america-ceo-interviews) Business in America     More From NBC (https://www.nbc.com/) NBC.COM   (https://nbcuacademy.com/?utm_source=nbcnews.com&utm_medium=menu-link) NBCU Academy   (https://www.peacocktv.com/?cid=20200715takeflightoneedi027&utm_source=nbcnews&utm_medium=symphony_display_homepagetakeover_link&utm_campaign=20200715takeflight&utm_term=weblink&utm_content=navlink&irclickid=TkV0N91B1xyPUp%3AXtkW3K14cUkFU%3AkRRw2cvQQ0&irgwc=1&utm_source=pk_vrs_imra&utm_medium=pd_aff_acq_psdlnk&utm_term=Skimbit%20Ltd.&utm_content=828265&cid=2201affiliateevgnpkpdaff4393&utm_campaign=2201affiliateevgn) Peacock   (https://www.nbcnews.com/nextstepsforveterans) NEXT STEPS FOR VETS   (https://www.nbcnews.com/archive) NBC News Site Map   (https://nbcnews.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) Help      Follow NBC News (https://www.facebook.com/NBCNews)     (https://x.com/nbcnews)     (https://www.nbcnews.com/newsletters)           news Alerts There are no new alerts at this time         Search (Search NBC News) Search           Facebook     Twitter     Email     SMS     Blue Sky     Whatsapp       Print     Reddit     Flipboard     Pinterest     Linkedin        (https://www.nbcnews.com/latest-stories) Latest Stories   (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics) Politics   (https://www.nbcnews.com/us-news) U.S. News   (https://www.nbcnews.com/world) World   (http://www.nbcnews.com/sports) Sports   (https://www.nbcnews.com/business) Business   (https://www.nbcnews.com/health) Health   (https://www.nbcnews.com/tips/) Tipline   (https://www.nbcnews.com/select) Shopping            (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court) Supreme Court    In reversal, Justice Samuel Alito steps aside from major climate case Alito will sit out the first case heard by the Supreme Court this term after facing calls from the left to do so because he owns stock in oil companies. He had previously pushed back.         Listen to this article with a  free profile    (0)   00:00 00:00                         (The Inauguration Of Donald J. Trump As The 47th President)     Associate Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito Jr. will not participate in the case involving Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy. Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images file              Share   (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=nbcnews.com)     AddNBC News to Google    Sept. 28, 2026, 2:10 PM EDT/  UpdatedSept. 28, 2026, 2:36 PM EDT  By (https://www.nbcnews.com/author/lawrence-hurley-ncpn1298564) Lawrence Hurley     WASHINGTON — Conservative Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito will no longer participate in (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/colorado-burns-novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-oil-compan-rcna589682) a major climate change case after facing calls that he recuse because of his stock holdings in oil companies.  The new development was disclosed in (https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/25/25-170/425819/20260928133032324_Letter%20to%20Counsel%20in%20No.%2025-170.pdf) a letter sent to lawyers involved in the case, with no reason given.    “Justice Alito has determined that he will not continue to participate in this case,” the letter said.       ()               (https://www.facebook.com/dialog/share?app_id=143643636297368&display=popup&href=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889&redirect_uri=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889&cid=mbt_video_socialShare_facebook)    (https://x.com/intent/post?text=Novel%20climate%20change%20lawsuit%20seeking%20damages%20from%20oil%20companies%20heads%20to%20Supreme%20Court&via=nbcnews&url=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889&original_referer=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889&cid=mbt_video_socialShare_twitter)    (mailto:?subject=Novel climate change lawsuit seeking damages from oil companies heads to Supreme Court&body=https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889)         (sms:?&body=Novel climate change lawsuit seeking damages from oil companies heads to Supreme Court via nbcnews - https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889)    (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=nbcnews.com)  Add to Google      (https://www.nbcnews.com/video/novel-climate-change-lawsuit-seeking-damages-from-oil-companies-heads-to-supreme-court-269121093889) Novel climate change lawsuit seeking damages from oil companies heads to Supreme Court  02:39         Alito had, via a court spokeswoman, (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/justice-alito-pushes-back-calls-recuse-major-supreme-court-climate-cas-rcna345305) previously told NBC News  there was no need for him to step aside from the case, which is being argued next week and could have broad nationwide implications when the court issues a ruling. Left-leaning groups have repeatedly called for Alito’s recusal from the case, in which Exxon Mobil and Suncor Energy are seeking to toss out a Colorado lawsuit seeking damages from the oil companies for the impacts of climate change. Although Alito does not own stocks in either company, he does hold stocks in oil companies ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66, as well as five other firms involved in the energy sector, his (https://cdn.sanity.io/files/pito4za5/production/21f33b4b81dcb822c61b8a790a1d5961c9544e9f.pdf) financial disclosure report  says.   Activists calling for his recusal said the companies he holds stocks in could benefit if the Supreme Court throws out the Colorado case, brought by the city and county of Boulder, because it could directly affect similar cases around the country in which they are among the defendants.  The court has a 6-3 conservative majority. With Alito stepping aside, it raises the possibility of a 4-4 split, which would leave the major legal issues unresolved. The oil and gas industry is hoping the court will issue a broad ruling that would prevent cases like the one in Colorado from moving forward in state courts, potentially saving them from paying out billions of dollars in damages. Earlier in the litigation, in 2023, Alito did recuse himself when the court (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/supreme-court/supreme-court-rejects-oil-companies-appeals-climate-change-disputes-rcna49823) turned away an appeal from the companies in the Colorado case.  On the same day, the court rejected appeals in similar cases involving other companies, including ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66. Alito also did not participate in those cases. In May, a court spokesman said Alito had “inadvertently recused” in the earlier Colorado case.   “Justice Alito does not have a financial interest in any party” involved in the case, the court spokeswoman said in a statement provided to NBC News at the time. Alito was advised by the court’s legal counsel that “his recusal is not required,” she added. That was before the most recent calls for Alito to step aside based on the indirect benefit he could obtain from a ruling in favor of Exxon and Suncor. (NBC News, As Colorado burns, a novel climate change lawsuit seeking damages from oil companies heads to the Supreme Court)       Earlier this month, an advocacy group called Consumer Watchdog (https://consumerwatchdog.org/energy/phillips-66-and-conocophillips-warned-justice-alito-his-oil-investments-face-material-risk-from-climate-lawsuits-for-years-their-trade-association-suncor-and-exxon-briefed-him-on-how-to-eliminate-th/) pointed to disclosures made by ConocoPhillips and Phillips 66 to shareholders in which they warned of the risks the companies face as a result of climate lawsuits making similar claims to the Colorado case. “Justice Alito’s recusal ... is the right decision, and one he should have made from the start,” Alexandra Nagy, the group’s organizing director, said in a statement. The Supreme Court spokeswoman did not immediately respond to a request seeking further comment. Some conservatives have also pushed for liberal Justice Elena Kagan to recuse in the case because of a controversy over a chapter on climate change included in, and (https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/wonky-reference-manual-judges-prompted-firestorm-climate-change-rcna588908) subsequently removed from , a reference manual for judges. Kagan wrote a brief foreword to the manual, and recently told lawmakers that she never read the chapter in question.        Share   (https://www.google.com/preferences/source?q=nbcnews.com)     AddNBC News to Google   (https://www.nbcnews.com/author/lawrence-hurley-ncpn1298564)  ()     (https://www.nbcnews.com/author/lawrence-hurley-ncpn1298564) Lawrence Hurley  (https://x.com/lawrencehurley)   (mailto:Lawrence.Hurley@nbcuni.com)     Lawrence Hurley is a senior Supreme Court reporter for NBC News.                       (https://www.nbcnews.com)          (https://www.nbcnews.com/information/nbc-news-info/about-nbc-news-digital-n1232178) About  (https://www.nbcnews.com/information/nbc-news-info/contact-us-n1232521) Contact  (https://nbcnews.zendesk.com/hc/en-us) Help  (https://www.nbcunicareers.com/) Careers  (https://www.nbcuniversalprivacy.com/privacy/cookies#accordionheader2) Ad Choices  (https://www.nbcuniversalprivacy.com/privacy?intake=NBC_News) Privacy Policy  (https://www.nbcuniversal.com/privacy/notrtoo/?intake=NBC_News) Your Privacy Choices  (https://www.nbcuniversalprivacy.com/privacy/california-consumer-privacy-act?intake=NBC_News) CA Notice  (https://www.nbcuniversal.com/terms) Terms of Service  (https://www.nbcnews.com/subscribe/supplemental-terms) NBC News Subscription Terms of Service  (https://www.nbcnews.com/archive) NBC News Sitemap  (https://www.nbcnews.com/information/nbc-news-info/closed-captioning-n1307063) Closed Captioning  (https://www.nbcnews.com/subscribe) Subscribe  (https://together.nbcuni.com/advertise/?utm_source=nbc_news&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=property_ad_pages) Advertise  (https://www.nbcnews.com/select) NBC Selected    © 2026 NBCUniversal Media, LLC (https://www.nbcnews.com) NBC News Logo    (https://www.today.com) Today Logo