As the number of climate change-related lawsuits increases, judges across the country should educate themselves on the science behind global warming to help with effective decision-making, a state supreme court justice and others in the legal community said May 3.

“As a judge, I have an obligation, as all judges do, to continue to educate myself about the law and legal issues and [be] prepared to handle the cases that come before me,” said Oregon Supreme Court Justice Rebecca Duncan at a Berkeley Judicial Institute event.