DC Accepted Papers Paper: Essays on Science in Court: An Analysis of Climate Change Litigation in the US from 1990 to 2018

*Names in bold indicate Presenter

Daniel SJ Kim, George Washington University


My paper consists of three essays that collectively evaluate how science is used in climate change litigation in the United States from 1990 to 2018. Using mixed methods approach with a sample of approximately 338 lawsuits that discuss scientific information in the field of climate change in their documentation, I evaluate 1) the different types of scientific evidence in these lawsuits and their influence on the judicial decisions, 2) the demand for and supply of scientific information in and around courtrooms, and 3) the framing of scientific uncertainty in legal disputes. The result of this project can potentially transform our understanding of how science is introduced, discussed, framed, and used in the judicial branch and, more broadly, in the field of government policymaking.