President Donald Trump has ordered a review of the Federal Judicial Center's scientific reference manual for judges, specifically targeting a withdrawn climate science chapter. The chapter, titled "Reference Guide on Climate Science," was removed in February after Republican attorneys general alleged it favored one scientific viewpoint.
The manual, published by the Federal Judicial Center in cooperation with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, is used by judges to evaluate scientific evidence in court cases. The climate science chapter was authored by Jessica Wentz and Radley Horton of Columbia Law School and was intended to help judges assess expert testimony and documentary evidence related to climate science.
Trump, in a June 19 post on Truth Social, described the manual as "totally discredited" and accused it of containing "Political Fraud and False Science on Climate." He ordered federal suspension and debarment officials to review the conduct related to the manual's inclusion of climate guidance.
The Federal Judicial Center's website states that the manual helps judges identify issues in dispute and reach informed assessments based on scientifically sound knowledge. The guidance is not binding but serves as a resource for handling complex scientific and technical evidence.
The decision to withdraw the climate science chapter came after Republican attorneys general argued it was biased against fossil fuel companies. The fourth edition of the manual was released in December 2023.