Win for Climate Science and the AAUP

In September, the Arizona Court of Appeals rejected attempts by a “free-market” legal foundation to use public records requests to compel faculty members to release emails related to their climate research. The decision came in Energy & Environment Legal Insti­tute v. Arizona Board of Regents, a case that has a long history, with two lower court decisions, two appeals court decisions, and three AAUP amicus briefs. In July, the AAUP filed an amicus brief in the current case, which involves requests targeting two University of Arizona faculty members, Malcolm Hughes and Jonathan Overpeck. The appeals court’s decision reverses a decision requiring release of the records and returns the case to the trial court.