Michigan Signals Intent to Appeal Decision Keeping Line 5 Dispute in Federal Court

Michigan Signals Intent to Appeal Decision Keeping Line 5 Dispute in Federal Court
Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is shown in this file photo on May 29, 2019. (The Canadian Press/AP-Paul Sancya)
The Canadian Press
9/6/2022
Updated:
9/6/2022
0:00

Michigan’s chief law enforcement officer wants to appeal a judge’s decision to keep the Line 5 pipeline dispute in federal court.

In court documents, Attorney General Dana Nessel suggests District Court Judge Janet Neff made errors in her Aug. 18 ruling.

That’s when Neff rejected efforts to get the dispute moved back to state court, where Michigan may have a better chance of success.

Nessel filed a motion last week indicating she plans to pursue an “interlocutory” appeal while the case is still before the courts.

The motion argues there are grounds for substantial differences of opinion on several key legal questions.

Nessel also argues that allowing such an appeal now would help to ensure the entire case doesn’t need to be argued again.