The Alaska Supreme Court is considering whether the public should have access to financial information for privately held Hilcorp Energy Co., operator of the Prudhoe Bay oil field and the near-half owner of the trans-Alaska pipeline. (via AlaskaBeacon)
that state regulators violated citizens’ fundamental rights when they allowed Hilcorp to keep its financial information secret after acquiring all of BP Plc.’s Alaska assets.
“There is not on the record one shred of evidence that that’s true,” Brena told the justices in the hearing. Valdez made a similar argument but lost when a state Superior Court judge dismissed the case in 2021. The city is now asking the Supreme Court to reverse that decision and send the case back to Superior Court so that its full merits can be considered.
Former Alaska legislator Kay Brown, attending a rally on Tuesday outside of the Boney Courthouse in Anchorage, wears a jacket with a slogan urging public access to Hilcorp Energy Co.’s financial information. Critics of Hilcorp staged the rally just before the state Supreme Court heard arguments in the city of Valdez’s lawsuit seeking to open the privately held corporation’s financial records.
Justice Joel Bolger said such technicalities were hard to accept “when I think about the Valdez marine terminal, the location of Port Valdez – all these things that the commission and many other people just know.” He cited the city’s official comments, which concluded that any disruption of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline System would be of huge consequence to Valdez residents.
A substantial crowd sat in the court’s chambers for the proceedings, which lasted for more than two hours. Among the onlookers was Vic Fischer, 99, the last surviving author of the Alaska constitution, and some former state lawmakers.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Alaska Supreme Court hears arguments in city of Valdez’s effort to unlock Hilcorp financial secretsThe attorney for the city argued that the public needs access to weigh the oil company’s ability to respond to a spill. Attorneys for the state and oil company said Valdez did not follow proper procedures before turning to the courts.
Read more »
Supreme Court news: Why 6-3 conservative court has Obama, Schumer, and Pelosi cheeringDemocrats are cheering for the conservative majority Supreme Court after a Tuesday ruling in Moore v. Harper, saying the rejection of the so-called independent state legislature theory marked a win for voting rights.
Read more »
Summit County judge achieves re-certification from Ohio Supreme Court for Valor Court ProgramPresiding Judge Susan Baker Ross earned a final certificate from the Ohio Supreme Court's Commission on Specialized Dockets for the Valor Court.
Read more »
Supreme Court lifts block on Louisiana adding second majority Black congressional districtThe Supreme Court on Monday allowed a lower court to consider directing Louisiana to redraw its congressional maps to create two majority Black districts.
Read more »
Supreme Court ruling limits challenges to unlawful convictions for innocent federal prisoners - New York Amsterdam NewsIn a 6-3 decision, the Supreme Court delivered a blow to the rights of federal prisoners, particularly those who may be completely innocent.
Read more »
US Supreme Court turns away case on charter school's mandatory skirts for girlsThe U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear a North Carolina public charter school's defense of its blocked requirement that girls wear skirts - a student uniform policy that its founder explained is aimed at treating women like 'fragile vessels.'
Read more »