A statue of Lady Justice with the sun coming up behind it.

Access to Justice

At Earthjustice Action, we firmly believe everyone has the right to hold polluters and other bad actors accountable in court when they break the law. When large corporations release toxic pollution into our air and water, our legal system should empower people to seek justice and stand up against polluters and harmful industries that threaten the health and well-being of our communities.

However, since the onset of the second Trump administration, we’ve watched the dismantling of this right in five key ways:

Eliminating or undermining judicial review

Limiting who can sue wrongdoers

Making it too expensive to sue and harder to win

Limiting judicial discretion
Blocking meaningful case settlements

A gavel resting on a table in a room full of books.

Our recent report, Access to Justice: Defending the Public’s Right to Seek Justice in Court, outlines these attacks and provides specific examples of how the Trump Administration and Congressional Republicans are working to codify them into law.

Download the Full Report

A dark photo of the outside of the U.S. Supreme Court.

Access to the courts is a cornerstone of American democracy. It allows ordinary people to stand up to large government agencies and powerful corporations when they infringe on our rights or violate the law.

Across dozens of bills and executive actions, we are witnessing a coordinated effort to limit who can enter the courthouse doors, limit the remedies judges can provide, and undermine the settlement tools needed to correct violations.

Everyone has a role to play in protecting our collective access to justice. By staying informed and speaking out against proposals that weaken judicial oversight, individuals across the country can do their part in keeping our courts open and accessible to all.