Supreme Court Transfers Chevron Coastal Suit to Federal Court

The Supreme Court ruled unanimously on Friday to transfer a high-stakes environmental lawsuit against Chevron from Louisiana state court to federal court, providing a procedural victory to oil and gas companies facing claims over coastal erosion and wetland damage.

In an 8-0 decision written by Justice Clarence Thomas, the court overturned a 2024 ruling from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, which had allowed the case to remain in state court. Justice Samuel Alito did not participate due to his financial ties to ConocoPhillips, a company involved in related litigation. The ruling centers on the federal officer removal statute, which permits cases against government contractors to be heard in federal court if they relate to official duties. Thomas emphasized that the phrase "relating to" requires a meaningful connection, not a tenuous one, and found that Chevron's activities met this standard.

The case stems from a 2013 lawsuit filed by Plaquemines Parish, a coastal area along the Mississippi River and Gulf of Mexico, accusing Chevron—through its predecessor Texaco, acquired in 2001—of violating state environmental laws. Jurors in state court determined last year...