Story perspectives

Judiciary Removes Controversial Climate Change Chapter from Manual

3/17/2026

Summary

Story summary

The Federal Judicial Center and the National Academies of Sciences released the fourth edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence to aid judges.
The edition controversially included a climate change chapter to help judges address environmental regulations and fossil fuel fraud.
Following criticism of bias, the judiciary removed the climate change chapter from the manual.
The chapter’s authors support the scientific consensus and advocate emission reductions.

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Story summary

The Federal Judicial Center and the National Academies of Sciences released the fourth edition of the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence to aid judges.
The edition controversially included a climate change chapter to help judges address environmental regulations and fossil fuel fraud.
Following criticism of bias, the judiciary removed the climate change chapter from the manual.
The chapter’s authors support the scientific consensus and advocate emission reductions.