What was it I was saying only a few hours ago?
Today, a decision is expected from the Virginia Supreme Court re "hockey stick" climate alarmist Michael E Mann's continued attempts to obstruct access to his data. A bunch of big media - NPR, The Washington Post et al - have filed briefs opposing Mann and the University of Virginia because they understand that a victory for him would be a massive defeat for freedom of information that would more or less gut the law in that state.
Notwithstanding that, the Supreme Court of Virginia chose today to side with Dr Mann. The effect is to read the University of Virginia out of the Freedom of Information statute. Why would they do that? Well, you can read their reasoning, such as it is, here. A less charitable thought is that the jurists decided they didn't want the heat from the higher-education crowd. The I-don't-need-this-in-my-life-right-now school of jurisprudence.
One thing the order does is give the green light to the University of Virginia to crank up the incinerator for the biggest destruction of research material in a critical area of public policy - not to mention what my old colleague at the Telegraph in London, Christopher Booker, called the other day "the worst scientific scandal of our generation". Before they grab the matches and gasoline, however, please note that my lawyers have requested a lot of the same material for Mann's defamation suit against me. I'll have more to say about this later today.
In the meantime, please note: I've got nothing to hide. I've already responded to Mann's discovery requests - on February 12th, over two months ago. As usual, as in Virginia, as in British Columbia, he's obstructing and delaying. So what's he got to hide?
~It's a radio day for me today. In an hour or so, I'll be behind the Golden EIB Microphone guest-hosting for El Rushbo at America's Number One radio show. It starts live coast to coast at 12 noon Eastern. Rush is out on in California for surgery today, and we wish him all the best.
~Later this afternoon, I'll keep my weekly date with The Hugh Hewitt Show across the country at 6pm Eastern/3pm Pacific.
