California Climate Cases on Hold as Oil Giants Eye Supreme Court

A set of long-fought climate liability cases from California local governments will get paused while Exxon Mobil Corp. and other oil companies ask the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit on Tuesday agreed to freeze an official mandate that would lock in the court’s May ruling that paved the way for San Mateo County and others to pursue climate litigation in state court. The decision will block proceedings while industry lawyers seek the justices’ views.

• The oil companies said they’re preparing to ask the high court to review whether the Ninth ...