A pair of scientists have set up a legal fund to help climate expert Michael Mann intervene in the high-profile court fight over emails he and others wrote when he was a professor at the University of Virginia.

Mann is on the receiving end of attacks by climate skeptics, who have sought to discredit his research on climate change. The criticism has been rejected by various organizations that have investigated it, including the National Science Foundation (Greenwire, Aug. 23).

The litigation, distinct from a similar effort overseen by Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli (R), revolves around the attempt by the conservative American Tradition Institute to obtain various emails written by Mann and other scientists via Virginia's freedom of information law.

In May, UVA agreed that ATI could review certain emails behind closed doors before further litigation commences over whether they can be made public.

Last week, Mann sought leave to intervene in the case before a judge in Virginia's Prince William County. Judge Gaylord Finch is due to hear arguments on the issue Friday morning.

The legal fund, first reported on by Mother Jones magazine, has been set up by Scott Mandia, a physical sciences professor at Suffolk County Community College in Selden, N.Y., and John Abraham, an engineering professor at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minn.

They have already taken in more than $7,000 of the $10,000 they are hoping to raise, Abraham said in an interview today.

"We think it's important for scientists to have some support, not just emotionally but financially," he said.

Mann said in an email he was grateful for the assistance.

"The entire community of scientists working on climate chance is under assault from an highly organized, industry-funded campaign to discredit and harass scientists, and it has to stop," he added.

Christopher Horner, ATI's director of litigation, has criticized Mann's attempt to intervene in the case.

"Mann has tried whatever means possible to ensure he remains free of any serious scrutiny, and this just appears to be his last gasp," Horner said in a statement.