A Boston federal judge ordered the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to speed up rulemaking that will require energy companies to disclose their payments to governments in exchange for commercial development of natural resources.

U.S. District Judge Denise J. Casper on Sept. 2 sided with plaintiff Oxfam America Inc., an international human rights organization known for programs that target poverty. She granted Oxfam's summary judgment motion and denied the SEC's summary judgment motion.

“The SEC is now more than four years past the deadline set by Congress for the promulgation of the final disclosure rule,” Casper wrote.