As cities and states sue major oil companies for billions over allegations of covering up climate risks, rightwing organizations are working to discredit the litigation wave. They claim lawyers are colluding with a nonprofit to bias federal judges against oil companies. However, a law firm counters that fossil fuel-backed groups are actually trying to sway the judiciary.
Evidence includes judicial seminars hosted by the Law and Economics Center (LEC) at George Mason University, featuring pro-industry speakers like current US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, who spoke as a fracking executive before becoming energy secretary. The stakes are high, says Kert Davies of the Center for Climate Integrity: "The goal is to create an atmosphere around climate litigation that makes the issue seem politicized, or like something that judges should rule on cautiously."
Republican Investigation into Environmental Law Institute
For three years, Republican lawmakers have targeted the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and its Climate Judiciary Project, which holds seminars on climate science for judges. The House Judiciary Committee, led by Jim Jordan and Darrell Issa, launched an investigation, alleging improper attempts to influence federal judges. Among those investigated is Sher Edling, a law firm representing states and municipalities in over two dozen climate deception lawsuits.
In a letter to the committee, Sher Edling attorney William Pittard stated that the firm's connection to ELI is minimal, while its links to oil companies—including BP, Chevron, and Koch Industries—are significant. These companies have funded ELI and had executives on its board, Pittard noted.
Fossil Fuel-Tied Judicial Seminars
Pittard highlighted seminars hosted by the LEC, attended by federal judges and funded by fossil fuel firms. Chris Wright, as head of Liberty Energy, spoke at LEC seminars in June 2021 and June 2024. Wright's talks included skepticism about global warming, according to fellow presenter David Henderson. Liberty Energy is a member of the American Energy Institute, a pro-fossil fuel think tank that has attacked ELI.
The LEC also received funding from ExxonMobil and the Charles Koch Foundation, both defendants in climate lawsuits. In a letter, the LEC told the Charles Koch Foundation that its program gives judges a "healthy skepticism of the invocations of 'science'" in lawsuits.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse raised concerns about the LEC, saying fossil fuel companies prefer judges to rely on industry-funded education. Records show the LEC sought support from the foundation of hedge fund billionaire Paul Singer, whose firm holds stakes in oil companies facing climate litigation.
Davies emphasized the difference between ELI's evidence-based education and industry-funded seminars: "To have a non-scientist fossil fuel boss like Chris Wright coming in and pretending to teach them about climate science? That's not the same thing."
