Former US President Donald Trump has called for a review of the Federal Judicial Center's scientific reference manual. He stated on Truth Social that the manual contains 'discredited' information regarding climate change. Trump claims this information has led to 'huge losses' for the United States.
Trump specifically posted, "Our Nation’s Federal Judges deserve Facts and Science, not Political Fraud and False Science on Climate." He then ordered Federal Suspension and Debarment Officials to review this conduct. The exact nature of the 'conduct' Trump wants investigated remains unclear.
This demand follows an earlier controversy this year. The US federal judiciary withdrew a chapter from the newest edition of its reference manual on scientific evidence. This chapter addressed climate change. Republican state attorneys general had argued it was biased against fossil fuel companies.
The Federal Judicial Center, which serves as the judiciary's research arm, included a climate change chapter in a long-planned update. The fourth edition of this manual was released in December. Judges frequently rely on this manual when handling cases that involve scientific testimony.
The section in question within the fourth edition of the FJC's Reference Manual for Scientific Evidence was authored by Jessica Wentz and Radley Horton. Both are from Columbia Law School. Their work aimed to help judges evaluate the admissibility and weight of expert testimony and documentary evidence related to climate science. The Federal Judicial Center jointly produced the manual with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.
The former president's intervention highlights ongoing political divisions over climate science in the United States. It also underscores the influence of political figures on scientific discourse within legal frameworks. The review could impact how climate-related scientific evidence is presented and interpreted in federal courts. This development will be closely watched by environmental groups, legal experts, and industries affected by climate policy.
The Federal Judicial Center's role is to provide research and education for the federal judiciary. Any challenge to its publications, especially those used by judges, carries significant weight. The outcome of this requested review could set a precedent for future challenges to scientific consensus in legal settings. This situation reflects a broader trend of increased scrutiny on scientific information used in public policy and legal decisions.