Judge denies Cuccinelli's demand for climate change researcher's records

[The Night Owl]

Source: The Roanoke Times

Judge denies Cuccinelli's demand for climate change researcher's records

The attorney general's office suspects former UVa professor Michael Mann may have violated a state fraud statute in obtaining research grants. But some critics accused Cuccinelli of going to excessive lengths in an effort to challenge the science behind global warming.

By Michael Sluss | The Roanoke Times

RICHMOND -- An Albemarle County judge has blocked Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli's quest for documents related to the work of a former University of Virginia climate scientist, ruling that Cuccinelli failed to show why he suspects the professor may have violated a state fraud statute.

Circuit Judge Paul Peatross issued his ruling this morning, 10 days after hearing arguments in the extraordinary clash between the attorney general and UVa.

But Cuccinelli is not backing down. He said he may appeal aspects of the Peatross’ ruling and will issue a new demand for documents that conforms with the judge's ruling.

...

Read more: http://www.roanoke.com/news/breaking/wb/258716

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What a waste of money. Ken Cuccinelli should resign.

[ehrnst]

1. Judge quashes Cuccinelli subpoena of U-Va. records

Source: Washington Post

An Albemarle County Circuit Court judge has set aside a subpoena issued by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli to the University of Virginia seeking documents related to the work of climate scientist and former university professor Michael Mann.

Judge Paul M. Peatross Jr. ruled that Cuccinelli can investigate whether fraud has occurred in university grants, as the attorney general had contended, but ruled that Cuccinelli's subpoena failed to state a "reason to believe" that Mann had committed fraud.

The ruling is a major blow for Cuccinelli, a global warming skeptic who had maintained that he was investigating whether Mann committed fraud in seeking government money for research that showed that the earth has experienced a rapid, recent warming. Mann, now at Penn State University, worked at U-Va. until 2005.



Read more: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/virginiapolitics/2010/08/judge_quashes_cuccinelli_subpo.html

[katandmoon]

2. K&R

[ehrnst]

3. And why is Cuccinelli wasting VA taxpayer dollars persuing information on Federal Grants?

"Additionally, the judge said Cuccinelli could only ask about one of five grants issued to Mann that the attorney general has been seeking to investigate. That's because the other four involved the use of federal, not state, funds."

[Blue_Tires]

4. to settle vendettas, score cheap political points, and increase his own

media profile nationally...

[ehrnst]

5. I also think that there is a dangerous dollop of "true believer" in that mix.

He doesn't ever stop to question if he might be wrong.

[DeSwiss]

6. Way to go judge.

- Cuccinelli is such an asshat!

K&R

[lobodons]

7. Cucci is Cockcoo

and its not for coco puffs.