The Maryland Supreme Court has rejected several local climate lawsuits, claiming they are an attempt to set U.S. energy policy through litigation. The lawsuits were filed against 26 oil and gas companies, including BP and Chevron, by the cities of Baltimore and Annapolis, and the state of Virginia. The court's ruling upholds lower state courts' view that these lawsuits attempt to circumvent the legislative process and the public's participation in national energy policy.