In November 2016, just two days after the election of President Donald Trump, the federal district court in Oregon handed down Juliana v. Obama, a remarkable decision that refused to dismiss a lawsuit brought by youth plaintiffs who claimed that federal government's fossil fuel policies over the...

This brief to the Oregon Supreme Court supports youth plaintiffs' claims that the state's failure to develop and implement a scientifically based plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid a climate catastrophe violates the state's public trust doctrine. The brief reviews the history and...

The public trust doctrine is an ancient doctrine of public property law that governs sovereign stewardship of natural resources. The doctrine both promote public access to trust resources and requires sovereign protection of them for the benefit of the public, including future generations. The...