Climate seminars for judges face funding trail probe amid fears of outside influence on courts
A government watchdog group is investigating the funding sources behind climate seminars for federal judges, raising concerns about potential outside influence on the judiciary. The probe focuses on financial records involving the Environmental Law Institute and the Federal Judicial Center Foundation. Critics argue the seminars may create an appearance of bias in future climate-related legal cases.
- ▪Government Accountability & Oversight filed FOIA requests for Treasury Department records to trace funding for climate seminars attended by federal judges.
- ▪The investigation centers on whether funds from the Environmental Law Institute flowed through the Federal Judicial Center Foundation to support the seminars.
- ▪Critics, including Republican lawmakers, warn the seminars may have exposed judges to one-sided climate advocacy, potentially affecting impartiality in energy litigation.
- ▪Fox News reviewed ELI tax filings showing multimillion-dollar sums partly designated for judicial education.
- ▪Chris Horner of GAO questioned how judges' attendance at resort-based seminars was funded and whether public judicial entities improperly used advocacy group money.
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Federal Judges Climate seminars for judges face funding trail probe amid fears of outside influence on courts Oversight group targets Treasury records in probe of climate seminars for judges, as critics warn of potential influence on energy cases By Ashley Oliver Fox News Published May 5, 2026 9:42am EDT Facebook Twitter Threads Flipboard Comments Print Email Add Fox News on Google close Video Happy Earth Day from protesting climate activists ‘Jesse Watters Primetime’ speaks with climate activists marking Earth Day.
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