The U.S. Supreme Court is set to open its fall term on Monday with oral arguments in Suncor Energy Inc. v. County Commissioners of Boulder County. It is one of the most closely watched cases on the docket this term, with significant implications for national climate and energy policy.

Backers of the nationally-coordinated climate litigation campaign and the case have acknowledged the ulterior objective of advancing their goal of setting American energy policy through the courts, rather than Congress. Meanwhile, expert legal, academic, and political voices have criticized the lawsuit, arguing that the case reaches beyond Colorado’s constitutional authority and is an improper use of state tort law.