HELD at the Montana Supreme Court

DEFENDING HISTORIC RULING!

On July 10, 2024, counsel for the youth plaintiffs argued before a panel of judges at the Montana Supreme Court to uphold Judge Seeley’s landmark ruling.  

1
WATCH

Watch oral arguments

Watch the livestreamed Montana Supreme Court proceedings, including oral arguments from the defendants and counsel for the youth plaintiffs.  

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2
READ

Read the press release

Read the press release on the Montana Supreme Court decision to get the details of the court’s ruling.

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How You Can Help

Make a gift to power youth-led litigation!

Double down and reaffirm your support for the 16 Held plaintiffs as they embark on their journey to ensure the state of Montana complies with the Supreme Court’s historic ruling!

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In Held v. State of Montana, 16 young people turned to the courts, asserting Montana’s actions promoting fossil fuels violated their constitutional rights to a clean and healthful environment, safety, dignity, and equal protection of the laws.

Judge Seeley found wholly in favor of the youth Plaintiffs, enshrining into law science-based protections for children’s most fundamental rights, making Held the world’s first, winning, youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit to have gone to trial. It was called “the strongest decision on climate change ever issued by any court” by the Sabin Center for Climate Change Litigation.

The State appealed to the Montana Supreme Court in September of 2023 and on July 10, 2024, the youth plaintiffs and their attorneys argued to uphold their historic ruling before the Montana Supreme Court. 

On December 18, 2024, the highest court of Montana agreed: Children have fundamental rights to a safe and livable climate!

How We Got to Oral Arguments at the Supreme Court:

September 29, 2023:

The State filed its appeal to the Montana Supreme Court.

October 16, 2023:

The State filed a stay in District Court asking the court to stay the decision pending appeal, which Judge Seeley denied on November 21, 2023.

December 1, 2023:

The State filed another motion to stay with the Montana Supreme Court, which was denied by the Supreme Court on January 16, 2024.

March 13, 2024:

The youth plaintiffs filed an answer brief in response to the State’s appeal to the Montana Supreme Court. Following that brief, between March 13 and April 4, 2024, scores of organizations and individuals filed 11 amicus briefs in support of the youth plaintiffs.

May 20, 2024:

The Montana Supreme Court set oral arguments for July 10, 2024, at the Montana Supreme Court in Helena, where the attorneys for the youth plaintiffs will argue the importance of upholding Judge Seeley’s historic landmark ruling.

We are excited to have the opportunity for the 16 Held plaintiffs to present their case to the Montana Supreme Court and remain confident in our legal arguments and in the compelling evidentiary record the Court will review. We are optimistic that together, we can secure the just outcome that these incredible young leaders, and generations to come, deserve.

— Nate Bellinger, Supervising Senior Staff Attorney and Held v. State of Montana Lead Counsel, Our Children’s Trust

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