The rightwing campaign to control how US judges view the climate crisis
US energy secretary Chris Wright featured in seminars to judges when he was a fracking executive
TL;DR
- Rightwing organizations are accused of trying to discredit climate litigation and influence federal judges.
- Law firms suing oil companies counter that fossil fuel-backed groups are the ones attempting to sway the judiciary.
- Judicial seminars hosted by fossil fuel-tied groups feature pro-industry speakers, including the current energy secretary in his former role as a fracking executive.
- The aim of this influence campaign is to make climate litigation appear political and discourage judges from ruling against defendants.
- Republican lawmakers are investigating the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and its Climate Judiciary Project for alleged improper attempts to influence federal judges.
- A law firm, Sher Edling, targeted in the inquiry, states its connections to ELI are minimal compared to its links with companies funding the inquiry.
- Fossil fuel-tied groups are also accused of trying to influence judges through seminars hosted by the Law and Economics Center (LEC) at George Mason University.
- The LEC accepts significant funding from fossil fuel firms and has hosted speakers with financial interests in the industry.