In October 2017, 16 young Alaska Natives and Alaskans filed the constitutional case Sagoonick v. State of Alaska, challenging Alaska’s codified statutory policy of "promoting the development, transport" and "use" fossil fuels for "Alaskans and for export" for causing and contributing to Alaska’s climate crisis, placing the youth plaintiffs in danger, and harming their health, safety, homes, culture, and Native villages in violation of Alaska’s Constitution.

On January 28, 2022, in a split decision, a narrow majority of 3 Justices of the Alaska Supreme Court shut the courthouse doors to the youth plaintiffs,  denying them their right to their day in court to present evidence of how Alaska’s statutory policy of promoting fossil fuels is harming them and violating their fundamental rights under Alaska’s Constitution.

The decision abdicates the Court’s duty of constitutional review and role as a check on the unconstitutional conduct of the other branches of government, allowing Alaska’s legislature and executive branch to continue pursuing an energy policy that is destroying the conditions necessary for human life.

The plaintiffs and their attorneys filed a Petition for Rehearing asking the Alaska Supreme Court to reconsider its decision and allow them their constitutional right to their day in court but it was denied on February 25th. 

 It is now time to stand in solidarity with these brave Alaskan youth plaintiffs!