2011
CSLDF was created to help defray the legal costs of an ideologically motivated lawsuit against climate scientist Dr. Michael Mann.
2014
After Dr. Mann’s legal victory, CSLDF brought on five additional board members and hired our first staff member.
2015
CSLDF files its first amicus brief, in support of protecting climate scientists from bad-faith lawsuits.
2016
The first Trump administration led to rapid growth in the need for our services. Pocket Guide series launched.
2017
The 50 State Report was launched, the first in-depth analysis of existing protections for scientific records. Legal training offerings grow alongside our workload.
2018
The Silencing Science Tracker, a joint project with the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law, launched to document anti-science attacks by the Trump administration.
2020
Model Scientific Integrity Policy launched to help scientists understand how research institutions and federal agencies approach scientific integrity. New, more robust website launched with a comprehensive resource library.
2024
Efforts were made to greatly expand our Board of Directors.
2025
Grew our legal team, adding a second staff attorney and two project attorneys.
2026
Revamped Silencing Science Tracker launched, making it easier to track the second Trump administration’s anti-science efforts.