Court Weighs Path for Rhode Island Climate ‘Misinformation’ Case

Federal judges are still weighing what to do with some climate cases that were filed years ago, even as new local climate lawsuits crop up around the country.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit heard oral arguments Friday to consider whether Rhode Island’s claims against Exxon Mobil Corp., Royal Dutch Shell Plc, and other companies belong in state or federal court.

Rhode Island sued nearly two dozen oil companies in state court in 2018, arguing they should pay for the local harms the state has suffered due to rising global temperatures.

The state and its ...