Judge Makes Terrible Environmental Decision, Cites Dr. Seuss

If you read the news or watch the media, you might believe their characterization of President Donald Trump as an absolute, childish, idiot.  But I have scarcely seen anything more moronic that what happened in a federal court recently.

A court opinion filed with the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals vacated an environmental permit that would have allowed The Atlantic Coast Pipeline to cross two national forests.  That is bad enough.  But what is worse — puerile even — is that the opinion quotes Dr. Seuss to justify its position.

“We trust the United States Forest Service to ‘speak for the trees, for the trees have no tongues.’ ”

So now, that quote from the Lorax is now also to be used in our judicial reasoning.  WBIR has more:

A review of the permit records led the court to decide that the Forest Service “abdicated its responsibility to preserve national forest resources.”

“This conclusion is particularly informed by the Forest Service’s serious environmental concerns that were suddenly, and mysteriously, assuaged in time to meet a private pipeline company’s deadlines,” the opinion reads.

The court granted a petition to review the Forest Service’s Record of Decision and Special Use Permit, vacate the Forest Service’s decisions and remand to the Forest Service for proceedings consistent with the new opinion.

So, let’s just get this straight.  Judges are now quoting Dr. Seuss to justify their rulings. Is Seuss now considered a legal, technical, or environmental expert now?

Was Barney not available?  Had Big Bird already flown south for the winter?

The next time you hear someone criticizing Donald Trump as being childish, remember this.

Image Credit: Wikipedia