Justice Samuel Alito is not required to recuse himself from a major climate case despite his substantial holdings in the oil and gas industry, a Supreme Court spokesperson said Friday.
Environmental and government watchdog groups this week complained to Senate Judiciary Committee leaders that Alito had not recused himself from the case, Suncor v. Boulder, raising questions about his ability to hear the case given its outcome could affect his investment portfolio.
But Alito’s holdings do not include the companies directly named in the case, Exxon Mobil and Suncor, avoiding triggering a direct financial conflict of interest, the spokesperson said.
“Justice Alito does not have a financial interest in any party,” a court spokesperson told NBC News on Friday. The court’s legal counsel told Alito that “his recusal is not required,” the spokesperson added.
