March 5, 2025: Plaintiffs Appeared in Court for Oral Arguments

Attorneys for the youth plaintiffs presented oral arguments before the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco, California. They argued that the lower court erred in dismissing the case without allowing children to present their evidence of harms caused by discriminatory federal policies.  

They emphasized that the EPA, as the agency charged with protecting children’s health and welfare, cannot lawfully discount the value of their lives and futures, and that the Constitution guarantees children the right to equal protection under the law.  

The youth plaintiffs are asking the Ninth Circuit to affirm that courts have a duty to hear constitutional claims brought by children whose rights are being directly harmed by government policies. 

Watch the court’s recording of oral arguments here.