Federal judges are attending expenses-paid, five-day seminars on property rights and the environment at resorts in Montana, sessions underwritten by conservative foundations that are also funding a wave of litigation on those issues in the federal courts.

In Attendance at Foundation's Judiciary Courses

Following is a list of federal judges who have attended seminars sponsored by the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment from 1992 to 1996. The list is taken from a document prepared by FREE. Judges referred to by state serve on the lower federal court in that state; judges referred to by circuit serve on courts of appeals:

Funding for the seminars, run by a group called the Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment (FREE), also comes from foundations run by companies with asignificant interest in property rights and environmental law issues, Internal Revenue Service records show.

A 1996 letter to judges said the seminars "explore the role of property rights, incentives, and voluntary cooperation in achieving environmental goals," and noted, "Conference and travel expenses are paid and time is provided for cycling, fishing, golfing, hiking and horseback riding."

The seminars are held at the Gallatin Gateway Inn, a restored 1927 railroad hotel near Bozeman complete with its own casting pond, and Elkhorn Ranch near Big Sky, described in its promotional material as a "traditional dude ranch" one mile from Yellowstone National Park, where "the comfortably rustic guest cabins . . . are built from hand-hewn native logs." Some judges bring spouses at their own expense and must pay for some of the