Sonia Sotomayor Pens Unanimous Supreme Court Opinion in Michigan's Favor
Summary
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that a Michigan lawsuit to shut down part of the Line 5 oil pipeline must stay in state court. The pipeline, owned by Canadian company Enbridge, has faced legal and safety challenges related to its operation under the Great Lakes.Key Facts
- Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote the unanimous Supreme Court decision supporting Michigan’s position.
- Enbridge tried to move the case to federal court but missed the deadline to do so.
- The lawsuit aims to stop a 4.5-mile section of Line 5 running beneath the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lake Michigan and Lake Huron.
- Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel filed the lawsuit in 2019, citing environmental risks from the pipeline.
- Enbridge has known about damage to the pipeline’s coating since 2014 and the line was struck by a ship’s anchor in 2018.
- Michigan revoked Enbridge’s easement for the pipeline in 2020; Enbridge is challenging this decision in federal court.
- Enbridge proposed building a protective tunnel around the underwater section, with state permits approved but federal approvals pending.
- Legal issues surrounding Line 5 also continue in Wisconsin, where a federal judge ordered a shutdown for a segment crossing tribal land.
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