Robinson Township v. Pennsylvania: A Model for Environmental Constitutionalism

21 Pages Posted: 28 May 2014 Last revised: 15 Jul 2016

See all articles by Erin Daly

Erin Daly

Widener University Delaware Law School

James R. May

Washburn University - Washburn University School of Law; Widener University Delaware Law School; Haub School of Law at Pace University

Date Written: May 27, 2014

Abstract

In Robinson Township v. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, a plurality of the court held that a controversial law encouraging fracking ("Act 13") violates the state’s constitutional Environmental Rights Amendment, the provisions of which the court held are "on par" with political rights. The decision highlights the challenges of engaging constitutional environmental provisions but demonstrates that, with sufficient creativity and commitment, meeting these challenges lies well within the bounds of judicial capability and authority. Because courts around the world are increasingly being asked to engage in environmental constitutionalism, and Robinson Township's thorough examination of the issues is instructive, not only for cases involving fracking but for cases involving all manner of environmental concerns. Most importantly, it shows what a difference a constitutional environmental right can make.

Robinson Township embodies the hope that constitutionalism affords for current and future generations. This article situates Robinson Township within comparative constitutionalism. Part I provides an overview of Act 13 and the Environmental Rights Amendment. Part II examines how the court there overcame impediments to judicial authority in reaching the merits. Part III considers how the court dispensed with some structural issues involving whether the case was or should be justiciable. Issues of whether and the extent to which constitutional environmental rights are on par with political rights are the focus of Part IV. How the court decided that the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania had violated its public trust responsibilities is addressed in Part V. Part VI then explains how the court’s analysis embraced environmental sustainability.

Robinson Township is worth examining in detail because it provides a roadmap for how courts can maneuver through the factual, legal, and political complexities of environmental constitutionalism. We conclude that Robinson Township is a bellwether decision not only for Pennsylvania, but for advancing environmental constitutionalism around the globe.

Keywords: fracking, environmental law, constitutional law, Pennsylvania, environmental rights, environmental constitutionalism

JEL Classification: K32

Suggested Citation

Daly, Erin and May, James, Robinson Township v. Pennsylvania: A Model for Environmental Constitutionalism (May 27, 2014). Widener Law Review, v. 21, p. 151, 2015, Widener Law School Legal Studies Research Paper No. 14-19, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2442367

Erin Daly (Contact Author)

Widener University Delaware Law School ( email )

4601 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803-0406
United States
302-477-2143 (Phone)
304-477-2257 (Fax)

James May

Washburn University - Washburn University School of Law ( email )

1700 SW College Ave.
Topeka, KS 66621
United States

Widener University Delaware Law School ( email )

4601 Concord Pike
Wilmington, DE 19803-0406
United States

Haub School of Law at Pace University ( email )

78 N. Broadway
White Plains, NY 10603
United States

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