Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito withdrew Monday from a climate-change case involving ExxonMobil and Suncor Energy after calls for him to step aside over oil-company stock holdings.
A letter sent to lawyers said Alito had decided not to continue taking part in the case, according to NBC News. The letter gave no reason. The Guardian and NBC News reported that Alito had previously recused himself in cases involving companies in which he owned stock; NBC said he had earlier indicated that recusal was unnecessary.
The case concerns claims that fossil-fuel companies misled the U.S. public and seeks damages, according to the reports. The court is set to hear the matter without Alito's participation.