Last Update: 04/05/2026 at 2:50 PM EST
Federal Court Manual Cuts Climate Chapter
Coverage from The New York Times, WV.gov, and others
Articles
3
Latest Article
03/31
Active Days
50
Executive Summary
Federal judicial officials removed a climate science chapter from a judges' evidence manual after state AG pressure, raising concerns about access to vetted science
- The Federal Judicial Center omitted the climate science chapter from the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence
- The chapter had been added in the manual's December 2025 update after years of work and peer review
- West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey said 27 Republican state attorneys general pressed for removal
- Judge Robin L. Rosenberg said no hard copies were distributed and future copies will also omit the chapter
- The National Academies said its web and print versions will note that the FJC omitted the chapter
- Supporters said judges need clear climate science background as climate litigation grows after Chevron deference ended
- The chapter remains available on the National Academies website version of the manual
Quick Facts
- What: Removed a climate science chapter from judges manual
- Where: United States federal judicial reference manual
- Why: Critics called it biased, supporters cited judge needs
- Who: Federal Judicial Center and state attorneys general
- When: After January 2026 objections and February removal
Coverage Timeline: 50 Days
Featured Article
Robin Rosenberg removed a climate science chapter from a Federal Judicial Center and National Academies Reference Manual after 27 Republican state attorneys general requested removal in January 2026.
Additional Articles
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The Federal Judicial Center removed the climate chapter from its Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence last week after criticism from state attorneys general, prompting concern about judicial access to vetted climate science in US courts.
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey reported that Federal Judicial Center Director Judge Robin L. Rosenberg confirmed omission of a climate science chapter from the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, Fourth Edition.