On Thursday, January 8, 2026, The Hill reported that Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito recused himself from a case involving a dispute between Louisiana parishes and major oil companies. The case concerns lawsuits filed by Louisiana parishes alleging that oil extraction projects caused damage to the state’s coastline.
Alito’s recusal stems from his financial holdings in ConocoPhillips, the parent corporation of Burlington Resources Oil and Gas Company, one of the companies named in the lawsuit. Court clerk Scott Harris explained in a letter to the involved parties that Alito’s decision was influenced by Burlington Resources’ continued involvement in the district court proceedings.
Burlington Resources had initially stated that it was withdrawing from the case, leading Alito to initially believe that recusal was unnecessary. However, subsequent briefings indicated that Burlington Resources remained a party in the district court, prompting Alito’s recusal.
The case centers on whether state-court lawsuits filed by Louisiana parishes against Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and other oil companies should be moved to federal court. The oil companies argue that federal law allows for the move because they were “acting under” a federal officer, citing contracts their predecessors entered with the federal government during World War II to produce high-octane aviation gas. These contracts, they contend, were part of national efforts to rapidly expand production during the war.
The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals previously ruled against the companies, and the Supreme Court agreed to review that decision.
Alito’s decision to own individual stocks has frequently led to recusals and has drawn scrutiny from ethics watchdogs. According to The Hill’s review of the court’s docket, Alito has recused himself 12 times this term from voting on a petition or merits-stage case, which is more than twice as many as any of his colleagues.
Source: The Hill
