Youth Climate Change Trial
For the first time in U.S. history, a federal court heard live testimony in a constitutional climate lawsuit called Lighthiser v. Trump, brought by 22 youth plaintiffs from Montana, Oregon, Hawai'i, California and Florida at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana in September 2025.
One of the kids core arguments was that the Trump administration's executive orders would worsen climate change, threatening their rights to life, liberty, and health under the Fifth Amendment. Montana is one of a few states that guarantees individual’s rights “to a clean and healthful environment” in the state constitution.
For the first time in U.S. history, a federal court heard live testimony in a constitutional climate lawsuit called Lighthiser v. Trump, brought by 22 youth plaintiffs from Montana, Oregon, Hawai'i, California and Florida at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Mat dos Santos, co-executive director for Our Children’s Trust in Lighthiser v. Trump, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Our Children’s Trust is suing the Trump Administration on behalf of 22 youth plaintiffs from Montana, Oregon, Hawai'i, California, and Florida in regard to climate change.
Mat dos Santos, co-executive director for Our Children’s Trust in Lighthiser v. Trump, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Our Children’s Trust is suing the Trump Administration on behalf of 22 youth plaintiffs from Montana, Oregon, Hawai'i, California, and Florida in regard to climate change.
Grace Gibson-Snyder, 21, a senior at Yale studying global affairs and energy, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Grace is one of the youth plaintiffs in Lighthiser v. Trump and was previously in Held v. Montana. She grew up in Missoula and is a raft guide in the summer for Montana River Guides.
Grace Gibson-Snyder, 21, a senior at Yale studying global affairs and energy, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Grace is one of the youth plaintiffs in Lighthiser v. Trump and was previously in Held v. Montana. She grew up in Missoula and is a raft guide in the summer for Montana River Guides.
The Lighthiser v. Trump youth plaintiffs walk to the hearing at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Hannah Bregman, 25, draws with chalk on the sidewalk in the lead up to the second day of trial for Lighthiser v. Trump at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Joseph Lee, 19, one of the youth plaintiffs in Lighthiser v. Trump, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Lee, who lives in Fullerton, California, was considering a career in environmental science, but might change paths due to recent funding and science cuts for climate change from the Trump administration.
Joseph Lee, 19, one of the youth plaintiffs in Lighthiser v. Trump, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Lee, who lives in Fullerton, California, was considering a career in environmental science, but might change paths due to recent funding and science cuts for climate change from the Trump administration.
Joseph Lee, 19, one of the youth plaintiffs in Lighthiser v. Trump, poses for a portrait in Missoula on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Lee, who lives in Fullerton, California, was considering a career in environmental science, but might change paths due to recent funding and science cuts for climate change from the Trump administration.
Maddie Greb, a youth climate activist from the University of Montana, leads a chant in support of the youth plaintiffs outside the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
A homemade sign outside the youth climate trial at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
About 50 supporters of all ages lined up in support of the youth climate plaintiffs in Lighthiser v. Trump case at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
The youth plaintiffs before the second day of the Lighthiser v. Trump hearing at the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.
Aerial views of Missoula, Montana on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.
Youth plaintiffs Olivia Vesovich, 22, and Georgi, 23, respond to supporters encouragement outside the Russell Smith Courthouse in Missoula, Montana on Tuesday, September 16, 2025.