Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has announced an investigation into the Environmental Law Institute and its Climate Judiciary Project for allegedly violating Florida's Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act.
"The Climate Cartel is trying to hijack our judicial system to accomplish their net-zero carbon agenda," Uthmeier said. "But the Courts are not the place to push policy, let alone policy that can't win at the ballot box. We are going to protect the integrity of our court system and hold anyone who is trying to deceive Floridians, especially its judiciary, accountable."
According to the attorney general, the investigation's subpoena requests documents and communications related to the Environmental Law Institute (ELI) and Climate Judiciary Project's (CJP) funding sources, their exchange with Florida judges, and their possible connection with climate-related litigation.
The ELI is a non-profit research organization that aims to strengthen environmental protection by advancing law, policy, and management through research, publication, and training. Moreover, its CJP initiative intends to give "neutral, evidence-based" education and climate science law and a "basic familiarity" to judges across the United States.
The subpoena requests the following records:
- Documents of possible interactions with Florida judges, including representations made to persuade them to attend training, seminars, and conferences
- Correspondence regarding fundraising with individuals in Florida
- Information regarding funding sources
- Disclosure between ELI/CJP and major climate activists
- Communications and documents showing ELI/CJP’s possible involvement with climate plaintiff funders
Uthmeier's subpoena follows another investigation into another group over alleged consumer protection and antitrust violations last year.
The attorney general has actively led on investigations involving human trafficking, drug trafficking, retail theft, as well as crackdowns on illegal immigration since assuming the posistion in Febuary 2025.
Uthmeier is running for a full term as AG against Democratic candidate Jose Javier Rodríguez in the November election.
