Docspud,

You are correct that environmental groups attempt to use the courts... mainly because they have very few other effective options.

This seems to be another constant Dem/Repub debate. Then it is "activist judges" and "trial lawyers" wanting to ruin the country. Of course lawyers are making money but many of the lawsuits are indeed necessary. What should be done when the EPA (the agency RESPONSIBLE) for public health and environmental regulations fails to fulfill their mission? What about the WDFW failing to protect fish or protect stocks when federally mandated to do so? The only thing you CAN do is sue them. Do you actually think that companies would do a good job of things like policing their own emissions? The courts are setup to establish a third party that can decide these things.

Repubs tend to blame the "trial lawers" for bringing the case and the "activist judges" for deciding it against business. I guess if you are lookign to take a side, you can either blame the people filing the suit or those that made it necessary to file.