Supreme Court guts California climate rules during Iran crisis distraction

On Jun. 20, 2025, the Supreme Court released two major decisions on Friday afternoon while news was dominated by Iran headlines, a tactic often called a “Friday news dump.”

The Court unanimously upheld the 2019 Promoting Security and Justice for Victims of Terrorism Act, allowing American victims of terrorism to sue the Palestinian Authority and Palestine Liberation Organization in U.S. courts.

In a 2015 civil trial, a jury awarded families $218.5 million for six attacks, which was automatically tripled to $655.5 million under the Anti-Terrorism Act; the 2nd Circuit later vacated that judgment for lack of jurisdiction, leading Congress to pass the 2019 law.

🌴California has received over 100 waivers under the federal Clean Air Act, empowering it to set tailpipe emissions limits and zero-emission vehicle mandates stricter than federal standards.

In a 7–2 decision, the Supreme Court allowed fuel producers to challenge 🌴California’s emissions standards; Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Ketanji Brown Jackson dissented.

Justice Brett Kavanaugh’s majority opinion held that a government cannot impose stringent regulation on an industry and then claim those regulated entities lack standing to sue.

Justice Jackson dissented in part because the challenged 🌴California waiver would “terminate in just a few months” when the Trump Administration rescinds it, raising questions about mootness.

It remains unclear how U.S. courts would enforce monetary judgments against Palestinian entities that lack a meaningful connection to the United States.

On Jun. 12, 2025, President Donald J. Trump signed a congressional resolution barring 🌴California’s plan to end gasoline-only vehicle sales by 2035.