Salem, Oregon – U.S. Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Donald S. Beyer Jr. are leading a bipartisan group of lawmakers in urging the Federal Judicial Center to restore climate science guidance that was recently removed from a key judicial reference manual.
In a letter sent to FJC Director Judge Robin Rosenberg, the lawmakers criticized the decision to eliminate an entire chapter on climate science from the Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence.
“After facing political pressure from Republican attorneys general and conservative organizations, you made the decision to eliminate the entire chapter on climate science from the FJC Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence,” the lawmakers wrote to FJC Director, Judge Robin Rosenberg.
“We vehemently oppose this decision and are writing to understand why, after publishing, the FJC made the decision to delete this chapter. The decision to censor this information recklessly disregards scientific consensus and the work of experts in a critical field of science.”
The Reference Manual on Scientific Evidence, produced in partnership with the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine, spans more than 1,000 pages and is designed to help judges understand complex scientific issues. It serves as an impartial resource, written and reviewed by leading scientists, to guide courts as they weigh evidence in technical cases. Lawmakers argue that removing the climate science chapter strips judges of critical tools needed to evaluate lawsuits tied to climate change.
Wyden and Beyer said that federal courts are increasingly handling climate-related cases, including disputes involving environmental regulation and corporate responsibility. Without reliable scientific guidance, they contend, judges may be left without clear, expert-backed context when making decisions that carry significant legal and economic consequences.
In addition to calling for the chapter’s reinstatement, the lawmakers asked the Judicial Center to explain how the decision was made and what review processes were followed before the material was initially published. They also questioned whether the National Academies were consulted prior to its removal and what steps the FJC is taking to prevent partisan influence from shaping its work.
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Several Democratic senators and representatives joined Wyden and Beyer in signing the letter, signaling broader concern within Congress about preserving scientific integrity in judicial education materials. The lawmakers maintain that access to accurate, consensus-driven science is essential for fair and informed rulings, especially as climate-related litigation continues to grow nationwide.
The text of the letter is here.
