The United States Supreme Court yesterday issued a unanimous decision ending a multi-year legal debate that makes it clear that Michigan’s Attorney General Dana Nessel’s lawsuit to shut down the Enbridge Line 5 pipeline should be heard in state court rather than federal.
Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians Chairman Austin Lowes praised the court’s decision, stating that it sends a strong message to Enbridge.
“This was a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court with no dissents, and it sends a clear message to Enbridge they need to stop playing legal games and address the merits of the Attorney General’s case,” said Lowes. “Sault Tribe is looking forward to this litigation finally playing out in state court where it belongs.”
Nessel first filed her lawsuit against Enbridge in 2019. The Canadian oil company had spent years trying to delay the case against the Line 5 pipeline before filing its motion to move the case to federal court 887 days late.