CDP co-founder Kelsey Skaggs was extensively featured in a ThinkProgress article on government and corporate crackdowns on protesters; co-founder Ted Hamilton was also quoted: “This crackdown is happening because activists have been successful, and because industry realizes that protest is a threat,” Kelsey Skaggs, executive director of the Climate Defense Project, told ThinkProgress. “We’ve seen it begin,...
107 law professors, along with the Society of American Law Teachers, filed an amicus brief in the Minnesota v. Johnston et al. case today. The brief was submitted as part of an appeal of the trial court’s order granting the defendants permission to present the necessity defense at trial. Covering topics including the First Amendment,...
CDP’s Kelsey Skaggs was quoted in an article on the trial of climate activists Leonard Higgins in Montana: “We’re disappointed that Mr Higgins was denied the opportunity to present a full defense and explain to the jury why he took his courageous action,” said Kelsey Skaggs, Executive Director of the Climate Defense Project and member of...
Climate Defense Project Fort Benton, MT November 22, 2017 Fort Benton, MT — After a judge denied his right to present a full defense, climate activist Leonard Higgins was convicted today of criminal trespass and criminal mischief for shutting off a tar sands pipeline in Montana last year. His action was part of a coordinated...
Climate Defense Project Berkeley, CA November 20, 2017 On Friday, Climate Defense Project (CDP) filed a first-of-its kind brief in a Washington state climate necessity case, arguing that the government’s failure to protect the climate under the public trust doctrine justifies activists’ use of direct action. The brief argues that state and federal authorities are...
Valve Turner Ken Ward has filed an appeal of the denial of his climate necessity defense. Climate Defense Project is working on the appeal, as is the Civil Liberties Defense Center, which has issued the following press release: PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 9, 2017 Contact: Lauren Regan, 541.687.9180 Valve Turner Appeals Court Refusal...
CDP’s Alice Cherry was quoted in an Associated Press article describing the history and use of the necessity defense by climate activists and others. The article also mentions Climate Defense Project’s resources on the necessity defense. Check it out here. It was first attempted in a U.S. environmental case in 2009 when a climate change...
CDP Executive Director Kelsey Skaggs was featured in an interview with Christina Aanestad on KPFA, a Northern California radio station, this morning. Other individuals interviewed as part of the broadcast include Tim DeChristopher, founder of the Climate Disobedience Center, and Annette Klapstein, one of the defendants in the Shut It Down action. You can check out the full...
Climate Defense Project October 17, 2017 info@climatedefenseproject.org Berkeley, CA — A judge in Spokane, WA has ruled that a climate activist may present evidence that his act of civil disobedience was motivated by the urgent need to address the climate crisis. Monday’s ruling comes in the wake of a similar ruling in a Minnesota case,...
InsideClimate News reported on a victory for activists and attorneys in Minnesota, where a judge issued the first written opinion allowing the climate necessity defense. More information is available in our press release on the case here.
