On Monday, the far-right American Tradition Institute (ATI)[1]
lost in its legal attempt to obtain thousands of records related to climate
scientist Michael Mann[2].
Paul Sheridan, a retired Arlington Circuit Judge, denied
“without prejudice” a motion filed by the ATI which argued that the University
of Virginia (UVA) waived its right to Mann’s records when it released them to
Mann’s lawyer in 2011.
Attorneys for UVA countered that it had not waived its
rights to the documents because the university and Mann had a common interest
agreement.
Unfortunately, ATI still has the ability to pursue the case
again at a future date.
It is also worth mentioning that the esteemed lover of
wisdom and science, Del. Robert Marshall (R-Prince William)[3]
was also on hand at the ruling on Monday to lend his momentous moral authority
to the occasion. It was this paragon of scientific freedom that initially filed
the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requesting Mr. Mann’s records from the
university, thus beginning what has since been a lightning rod issue for GOP
members seeking to make the history books as homo-sapiens of a less civilized
epoch.
I’ve always wondered this, even if Attorney General Ken
Cuccinelli, Del. Marshall, and/or the ATI got their hands on the rest of Mann’s
documents, who amongst these stewards of climate science would interpret them?
ATI, a known far-right organization? Perhaps Cuccinelli and Marshall would stun
everyone with their own brilliance and make sense out of the records
themselves?
The longer that political figures in Virginia pursue this
issue, the longer more important issues are ignored, like what to do about
mitigating the effects of climate change in Virginia?
For the sake of the commonwealth and our country, it’s time
to move on.
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