Oklahoma's battle over the anti-ESG law rages on as Attorney General Gentner Drummond takes his fight to the state Supreme Court. Drummond is determined to overturn a lower court's decision that blocked enforcement of the law aimed at protecting the oil and gas industries from what he views as discrimination by financial institutions. The move follows the firing of state Treasurer Todd Russ's previously hired legal counsel after their failure to secure a ruling in favor of the Oklahoma Energy Discrimination Act of 2022, as reported by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office.

Drummond, stepping in back in May, has now promised to rigorously defend the state’s interests. "There is a great deal of lost ground to make up on this litigation after the Treasurer and his hand-picked legal counsel failed in district court," Drummond said, according to a press release by the Oklahoma Attorney General's office. He further criticized financial entities for purportedly bowing down to a "radical environmental agenda."

The controversial law in question tries to prohibit state contracts and pension system investments with institutions that are seen as unfairly targeting the fossil fuel sector. A taxpayer had challenged the law in the case of Keenan v. Russ, which led to the permanent injunction that the Attorney General is now appealing.

Drummond’s intervention has escalated the case, attacking the performance of the Treasurer's private counsel. "It is extremely disappointing that the counsel hired by Treasurer Russ was unable to secure a favorable ruling in defense of Oklahoma's anti-ESG law," Drummond communicated back on May 9, as per the Oklahoma Attorney General's office. The Attorney General stands firm on his position that the people of Oklahoma deserve a strong defense for their key industries.