Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel — SCOTUS (argued February 24, 2026)
The Supreme Court considers whether a federal court may excuse a defendant who misses the thirty-day deadline for moving a civil case from state court to federal court. Michigan sued Enbridge in state court over the Line 5 pipeline. Enbridge waited eight hundred eighty-seven days after receiving the complaint before seeking removal. The Court later ruled unanimously that the deadline cannot be extended through equitable tolling, which can excuse a missed deadline in limited circumstances. The case therefore had to return to Michigan state court.
Enbridge Energy, LP v. Nessel (No. 24-783) — Supreme Court of the United States, argued February 24, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/media/audio/mp3files/24-783.mp3
Argument transcript — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/oral_arguments/argument_transcripts/2025/24-783_h315.pdf
Case docket — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/docket/docketfiles/html/public/24-783.html
Brief for Enbridge Energy:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-783/373220/20250829124313186_24-783_Petitioners%20Brief.pdf
Brief for Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel:https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/24/24-783/379565/20251014144257159_24-783%20Enbridge%20Brief%20of%20Respondent%20Final%20A.pdf
Decision — Supreme Court of the United States:https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-783_bqm2.pdf
Decision coverage — SCOTUSblog:https://preview.scotusblog.com/2026/04/court-holds-that-30-day-deadline-for-removing-cases-to-federal-court-is-mandatory/
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:47John J. Bursch
- 31:40Ann M. Sherman