TUESDAY August 15, 2023: Game-Changer: Climate Kids Win! by award winning, ZUMA Press photo-journalist Robin Loznak: They win today the Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit, In Helena, Montana the judge who heard the United States' first constitutional climate trial earlier this year ruled in favor of a group of young plaintiffs who had accused state officials in Montana of violating their right to a healthy and clean environment. As reported in The Guardian, Eva, a plaintiff who was 14 when the suit was filed said, ''I'm so speechless right now. I'm really just excited and elated and thrilled.'' The lawyers described the first-of-its-kind ruling as a ''game-changer'' and a ''sweeping win''. The case was brought by the non-profit Our Children's Trust legal team based in Eugene, Oregon. The firm has similar outstanding youth-led constitutional climate change cases pending in numerous state courts. The team is also litigating the ground breaking Juliana v United States federal climate change lawsuit moving its way through the federal court system.
© zReportage.com Story of the Week #901: TUESDAY August 15, 2023: Game-Changer: Climate Kids Win! by award winning, ZUMA Press photo-journalist Robin Loznak: They win today the Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit, In Helena, Montana the judge who heard the United States' first constitutional climate trial earlier this year ruled in favor of a group of young plaintiffs who had accused state officials in Montana of violating their right to a healthy and clean environment. As reported in The Guardian, Eva, a plaintiff who was 14 when the suit was filed said, ''I'm so speechless right now. I'm really just excited and elated and thrilled.'' The lawyers described the first-of-its-kind ruling as a ''game-changer'' and a ''sweeping win''. The case was brought by the non-profit Our Children's Trust legal team based in Eugene, Oregon. The firm has similar outstanding youth-led constitutional climate change cases pending in numerous state courts. The team is also litigating the ground breaking Juliana v United States federal climate change lawsuit moving its way through the federal court system.

Youth plaintiffs in a climate change lawsuit against the state of Montana walk to the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena on Friday. Four of the 16 plaintiffs in the case, from right, are Mica, 14, of Missoula, Taleah, 19, or Polson, Badge, 15, of Kalispell and his brother and Lander, 18. Only their first names were used in the lawsuit because they were minors when it was filed. During the hearing the state's attorney asked to partially dismiss the upcoming trial on the basis of mootness. The judge suggested she expects the case to continue with a trial scheduled for June.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

Youth plaintiff RIKKI HELD, 22, middle, waits with other plaintiffs and attorneys for the start of trial in the landmark Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit in the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena on the sixth day of their trial. Sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change during the first of its kind constitutional lawsuit in the United States. The trial is scheduled to conclude with closing arguments on Wednesday.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

Plaintiffs in the landmark Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit walk to the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena on the first second of their trial. Pictured are three of the 16 plaintiffs in the case, from left they are Badge, 15, of Kalispell, are Mica, 14, of Missoula, and Eva, 17, of Gardiner. Only their first names were used in the lawsuit because they were minors when it was filed. The Sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change during the first of its kind constitutional lawsuit in the United States.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

Well wishers cheer as youth plaintiffs and their attorneys in the the landmark Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit walk to the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena the first day of their trial. Sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

Youth plaintiffs and their attorneys in the the landmark Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit walk to the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena for the first day of their trial. Sixteen young people are suing the state of Montana over their constitution right to a safe and clean environment. It's the first case of its kind to reach trial in the United States.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

Plaintiffs in the landmark Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit speak with JULIA OLSON, Executive Director & Chief Legal Counsel of the non-profit law firm Our Children's Trust, inside the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena on the third day of their trial. Sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change during the first of its kind constitutional lawsuit in the United States.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

Youth plaintiffs in the landmark Held vs Montana LILIAN and RUBY (last names not released by court) sit together during proceedings in a climate change lawsuit inside the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena on the third day of their trial. The two sisters are part of the sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change during the first of its kind constitutional lawsuit in the United States.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire

The first page of a 103-page legal decision by Montana District Judge Kathy Seeley in the ground breaking Rikki Held, et.al., v State of Montana climate change lawsuit. Seeley, who heard the USA's first constitutional climate trial earlier this year, ruled on Monday in favor of a group of young plaintiffs who had accused state officials in Montana of violating their right to a healthy environment under the state constitution. The full ruling: https://westernlaw.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023.08.14-Held-v.-Montana-victory-order.pdf.
© Montana First Judicial-District via ZUMA Press Wire

Youth plaintiffs share a snack outside the courthouse after closing arguments in the landmark Held vs Montana climate change lawsuit in the Lewis and Clark County Courthouse in Helena. Sixteen young people argue that the state is robbing their future by embracing policies that contribute to climate change during the first of its kind constitutional lawsuit in the United States.
© Robin Loznak/ZUMA Press Wire