Over two historic days in Missoula, young people finally had their voices heard
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Dear Priscilla,

Over two historic days in Missoula, young people finally had their voices heard in the highest legal forum of our democracy. For the first time, a federal constitutional climate case led by youth presented live testimony—creating an unprecedented record that will echo far beyond this courtroom. 

 

A Story of Courage and Truth 

In the cool Missoula morning, supporters lined the sidewalk with bright orange marigolds, creating a path of hope leading to the courthouse. As our young plaintiffs walked through this tunnel of solidarity, they carried with them stories that no child should have to tell. 

 

Joseph, 19, described a heat-stroke hospitalization at 17 that left him "terrified to go outdoors on hot days." He told the court how federal funding cuts eliminated his research opportunities, forcing him to abandon his Environmental Policy major.  

 

Jorja, 17, spoke of preparing to "watch my Montana burn" while a hard-won $400,000 EPA grant for school electric buses sits frozen by policy changes.  

 

Avery, 20, described fleeing multiple hurricanes during college, saying she can't imagine "bringing more life into this world that's so uncertain."  

 

Eleven-year-old J.K. shared the terrifying moment he noticed his little brother's "shallow, labored breathing" and watched him get rushed to the hospital with severe pneumonia—a direct result of the poor air quality they've lived with.  

 

Isaiah testified about worsening wildfire smoke and decreased snowpack disrupting his life in Montana, describing how he and his family were forced to evacuate their home due to wildfire smoke that severely affected his younger brother's lungs. "As a 17-year-old, I shouldn't have to step in like this... to advocate for my health and safety." 

 

Standing with them were leading experts: 

 

  • Dr. Steve Running, Nobel prize winner, testified that "every additional ton of CO₂ matters to these plaintiffs" while dismantling this administration’s junk science as "not a serious piece of academic work, period."  

  • Dr. Lori Byron, pediatrician, warned of "grave risk to these plaintiffs" from unleashing more fossil fuels, emphasizing that "fossil fuel pollution is already killing 100,000 Americans every year."  

  • Dr. Geoffrey Heal, Columbia economist, showed renewable energy is "less expensive than fossil fuels" while burning coal costs society $500 for every $125 in electricity produced, testifying that there is no national energy emergency to justify the executive orders.  

  • Dr. Mark Jacobson, Stanford engineer, proved renewable energy can reliably power the entire U.S., calling unreliability claims "scientifically baseless."  

  • Nicole Hughes testified about "a massive constriction" in renewable development, with 35 projects canceled and over $22 billion in investments destroyed since January, warning that "there's a chance the utilities won't be able to meet the new load growth in the region" if renewable demand is not met. 

 

In one of the most powerful testimonies, John Podesta, former White House Advisor, drawing on service under four presidents, electrified the courtroom by exposing how the administration is "willfully blinding itself to climate science" before declaring with fire in his voice: 

 

"These kids are being harmed by these executive orders. This court can do something about that." 
John Podesta takes the stand. Sketch thanks to Shauna Layton

Sketch courtesy of Shauna Layton 

 

A Powerful Closing 

In closing arguments, lead attorney Julia Olson delivered a heartfelt message: "One of the plaintiffs passed me this note," Julia told the court. "And they wrote: 'People get a choice about how fast they go on a highway. But we can't choose how much coal is driven through my town.' And that is what this case is about." 

 

She warned the court that the President’s executive orders are harming the plaintiffs now—and could cut their young lives short. Julia framed this case as a turning point: just as courts once rose to end segregation, she asked this court to rise to protect young people’s most basic constitutional right—the right to life itself. Julia reminded the Court that moments of great change have always required judicial courage, pointing to Brown v. Board of Education as proof that even the worst injustices can be addressed when they’re measured against the principles enshrined in the Constitution. She urged Judge Christensen to follow in those footsteps and confront the President’s unconstitutional actions. 

 

The Truth Is Now on Record 

The constitutional stakes could not be clearer. This case is fundamentally about the right to life—the most basic protection our democracy promises its citizens —and about preventing unlawful executive overreach. When executive orders systematically endanger children's health and exceed constitutional authority, our democracy demands judicial intervention to protect fundamental rights and check executive power. 

 

Regardless of what happens next, this moment changed everything. These brave young voices—alongside Nobel laureates and former White House advisors—are now part of the constitutional record. Their stories can never be erased.  

 

What This Means 

While we await Judge Christensen's ruling on Plaintiffs' Motion for Preliminary Injunction and Defendants and Intervenors' Motions to Dismiss, our work continues across multiple fronts. We're pursuing strategic state-level litigation, protecting victories in Hawaiʻi, and expanding constitutional protections through state amendments. In this federal environment, state-level protections are crucial for creating legal precedents and reaching tipping points. 

 

This unprecedented testimony has advanced our legal system's understanding of climate rights, building constitutional foundations that will strengthen protections for young people for generations to come. Since 2010, Our Children's Trust has worked toward this moment when young voices would finally be heard in federal court demanding their constitutional right to a livable climate. Thanks to your support, they were able to speak their truth to power in the most important legal forum in our democracy. 

 

Whatever comes next, the world is now listening. 

 

Thank you for making this historic moment possible. 

 

With profound gratitude and continued determination, 

The Our Children's Trust Team 
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