Officials, pipeline companies and experts said the protesters could have caused environmental damage themselves by shutting down the lines. Judge Michael Rickert has barred Ward’s lawyers from formally mounting a “necessity” defence or arguing that his actions were justified in light of a looming environmental crisis. Supporters call Ward’s trial an “all hands on deck moment” for the climate change movement, which has also spawned protests of the Dakota Access and Keystone XL pipeline. Last week U.S. President Donald Trump signed orders smoothing the path for those pipelines in an effort to expand energy infrastructure. Skagit County Prosecutor Rich Weyrich said he expected the trial to be completed this week.

Source: National Post January 31, 2017 16:18 UTC