⚖ Oral Arguments, with Context

A dispute that began with seven oil and gas leases in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge reaches the Ninth Circuit. Alaska's development authority acquired the leases in 2021; the Interior Department canceled them in 2023, citing flaws in the environmental review that preceded the sale. The authority sued, and a district court set aside the cancellation in 2025 because it concluded Interior needed a court order. Interior later lifted the leases' suspension and reaffirmed them. The tribal and conservation appellants want the cancellation restored; Interior and the authority say the later decision has made this appeal moot.

Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority v. Gwich'in Steering Committee, et al. (No. 25-3231 / 25-3344) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued September 15, 2026.