Enbridge Energy, LP, et al., Petitioners v. Dana Nessel, Attorney General of Michigan, on Behalf of the People of the State of Michigan

Michigan sued Enbridge in state court over its Line 5 pipeline, but Enbridge tried to move the case to federal court after the 30-day deadline had passed. The Supreme Court said federal district courts cannot excuse or equitably toll that deadline, so the case stays in Michigan state court.

The Court said district courts cannot excuse the 30-day removal deadline in 28 U.S.C. § 1446(b)(1). No vote count or opinion lineup is available in the provided materials.

Majority

Sotomayor

Roberts

Thomas

Alito

Kagan

Jackson

Kavanaugh

Gorsuch

The ruling makes the 30-day deadline for moving a case from state court to federal court firm. Companies, governments, and other litigants that miss that window cannot ask a district judge to forgive the delay.

Michigan's lawsuit against Enbridge will continue in Michigan state court rather than federal court. Lower courts must apply the 30-day removal deadline as a hard limit, and parties must act within that window or lose the chance to remove.

The dispute was whether a federal district court can forgive a late attempt to move a case from state court to federal court. The Court said it cannot.

It gives both sides a clear deadline and reduces late forum fights over where a case will be heard. A company that waits too long cannot switch courts later.

Michigan's case over Line 5 goes forward in Michigan state court. Enbridge cannot rely on a district court to overlook its missed federal removal deadline.