Environmental Matters Civil Filings for March 2026
Table 1. Environmental Matters Civil Filings
Number Latest Month 48 Percent Change from previous month 14.3% Percent Change from 1 year ago -21.2% Percent Change from 5 years ago -13.4% The latest available data from the federal courts show that during March 2026 the government reported 48 new environmental matters civil filings. According to the case-by-case information analyzed by the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse (TRAC), this number is up 14.3% over the previous month when the number of civil filings of this type totaled 42.
The comparisons of the number of civil filings for environmental matters-related suits are based on case-by-case court records which were compiled and analyzed by TRAC (see Table 1).
When monthly 2026 civil filings of this type are compared with those of the same period in the previous year, their number was down (-21.2%). Civil filings for March 2026 are lower than they were for the same period five years ago. Overall, the data show that civil filings of this type are down 13.4% from levels reported in March 2021.
Figure 1. Environmental Matters Civil Filings Over the Last Five Years
The long term trend in environmental matters civil filings for these matters going back five years is shown more clearly in Figure 1. The vertical bars in Figure 1 represent the number of environmental matters civil filings of this type recorded each month. The superimposed line on the bars plots the six-month moving average so that natural fluctuations are smoothed out. One-year and five-year change comparisons are based upon the moving averages.
Jurisdiction
Within limits set by Congress and the Constitution, the federal district courts have jurisdiction to hear cases falling under any one of several categories. The single largest number of civil filings of these matters during March 2026 was under the classification "Federal Question", accounting for 52.1% of civil filings.
As shown in Figure 3, additional categories with substantial numbers of civil filings were "U.S. Government Defendant" (33.3%) , "U.S. Government Plaintiff" (14.6%).
Top Ranked Judicial Districts
Understandably, there is great variation in the number of environmental matters civil filings in each of the nation's ninety-four federal judicial districts.
The Central District of California — with 7 civil filings — was the most active during March 2026. The Central District of California was ranked 2nd a year ago as well as five years ago.
The District of Montana and Northern District of California ranked 2nd. The District of Montana was ranked 6th a year ago, while it was ranked 9th five years ago.
Recent entries to the top 10 list were Massachusetts and New Jersey, now ranked 4th and 6th. These districts ranked 11th and 11th one year ago and unranked and . five years ago.
The federal judicial district which showed the greatest growth in environmental matters civil filings compared to one year ago — 300.0 percent — was Massachusetts. Compared to five years ago, the district with the largest growth — 400.0 percent — was Montana .
In the last year, the judicial District Court recording the largest drop in environmental matters civil filings — 33.3 percent — was Oregon. But over the past five years, Western District of Washington showed the largest drop — 60.0 percent.
Report Generated: May 7, 2026
