Chevy’s Court Case Gets Surprise Support From Two Liberal Justices

The Supreme Court revisited a dispute that began in Louisiana over oil drilling in the 1970s. A state law had halted oil work without a special permit, and in 2013 local parishes sued major companies for past drilling practices. They alleged that the companies used harmful methods and damaged the coast.

Federal Shift

Chevy, a large oil firm, moved the case to federal court by invoking a rule that allows state lawsuits to be heard federally when they involve government actions. Chevy argued the drilling was part of wartime work for the U.S. military, thereby qualifying under that rule.

Supreme Court Decision

Justice Thomas authored the majority opinion. Unexpectedly, two liberal justices—Kagan and Sotomayor—joined him in full. The third liberal justice, Jackson, participated only in the judgment, not the reasoning.

The Court found that Chevy satisfied the rule’s “relating to” test, keeping the case in federal court. This decision illustrates that judicial opinions can cross typical political lines.