And Now We Wait on SCOTUS

On January 12, 2026, the United States Supreme Court heard arguments in Chevron USA Inc. v. Plaquemines Parish. The case could change how companies move lawsuits from state courts to federal courts; you’ve read plenty about it on this website.

The case focuses on a long-running legal question. Can large oil companies move certain state-law lawsuits into federal court by saying they were working with the federal government? A federal law allows this when a defendant was “acting under” a federal officer. The Court is now being asked to decide how far that rule should go.

During the hearing, lawyers for Chevron argued that the law should be read broadly. They said oil companies helped meet federal needs during wartime by supplying fuel. Because of that connection, they believe the lawsuits should be heard in federal court. Several Justices asked tough questions about what “acting under” means. They also questioned how closely a company’s actions must be tied to the federal government.

The argument offered clues about how today’s Court thinks about federal power. Some Justices seemed worried about opening the federal courts too widely, especially for conduct that happened many years ago. Others appeared more willing to let companies move cases to federal court when their actions relate to federal goals.

The Court is expected to decide the case by late June 2026. While the issue may sound technical, the impact could be wide. The ruling may affect environmental lawsuits and other large civil cases across the country. It may also show how the Court balances state authority, federal power, and corporate responsibility.

This case is just the beginning. In future articles, we will take a closer look at what individual Justices said during the arguments and what their questions may reveal about where the Court is headed next.