On June 29, 2023, the SCOTUS (Supreme Court Of The United States) delivered a historic ruling of 6-3, overturning the Chevron decision. The ruling has sparked intense debate among legal scholars, policymakers, and the public. Shifting the balance of power between the executive and judicial branches of government.
Background:
The Chevron decision, formally known as Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc., was an important case decided by the SCOTUS in 1984. The decision established a legal doctrine known as "Chevron deference", requiring courts to defer to interpretations of statutes made by those government agencies charged with enforcing them, unless such interpretations are unreasonable. Due to the bureaucrats, the governmental agencies being experts in the fields not the judiciary.
This doctrine essentially gave federal agencies broad power to interpret laws where the law itself did not provide a clear answer, effectively allowing the agency to fill in gaps in legislation. This has been particularly influential in areas like environmental regulation, public health, workplace safety, and consumer protection. Areas that are constantly changing and need to be acted on quickly.
The Overturn:
In a 6-3 ruling, the SCOTUS overturned the Chevron decision. Chief Justice John Roberts, writing for the majority, criticized the Chevron decision as a "judicial invention that required judges to disregard their statutory duties". The court ruled that courts must exercise their independent judgment in deciding whether an agency has acted within its statutory authority.
This decision represents a significant shift in power from federal agencies to the courts. It curtails the power of federal agencies to interpret the laws they administer, which could impact a wide range of areas.
Justice Elena Kagan, dissenting stated that the ruling “will cause a massive shock to the legal system”. The White House also criticized the Supreme Court’s decision as “deeply troubling” and said it undermines the ability of agencies to employ their expertise.
Controversial Decisions:
The Chevron Overturn has been met with polarizing contention from legal scholars, federal agencies, and the public. Supporters of the decision argue that it restores the balance of power between the judiciary and the executive branch. And limits the power of unelected bureaucrats and prevents them from having too much influence over regulations that impact major areas of American life.
Critics, however, warn that the decision could lead to increased judicial activism and undermine the ability of federal agencies to effectively carry out their mandates. Making it much harder for the executive branch agencies to regulate the environment, public health, workplace safety and other issues.
What To Expect:
The effects of the Chevron Overturn are expected to be far-reaching. It is likely to impact a wide range of areas, including environmental regulation, public health, workplace safety, and consumer protections. The decision may also lead to increased litigation as parties challenge agency decisions in court.
The Chevron Overturn could have a significant impact on environmental regulation and public health. For instance, it could prevent federal agencies from issuing ambitious climate and wildlife rules, potentially leading to more polluted air and water. This could send a “convulsive shock” to decades of federal environmental regulations. In terms of public health, the Chevron Overturn could disrupt how federal agencies engage in rulemaking, including those that regulate and implement major health policy programs. This could lead to more unsafe consumer products and workplaces, more public health and safety threats, and more inaction on the climate crisis.
In the realm of workplace safety and consumer protections, federal agencies enforcing labor and employment laws will likely face more challenges to their rules and other interpretive guidance. This could lead to fewer new regulations and more modest positions in the regulations they do issue. The Chevron Overturn could also weaken regulations that cover consumer products, food and water, financial services, and more. It could make it harder for federal agencies to protect the public and could ultimately hurt many consumers.
MLA Citations
Howe, Amy. “Supreme Court Strikes down Chevron, Curtailing Power of Federal Agencies.” SCOTUSblog, 28 June 2024, www.scotusblog.com/2024/06/supreme-court-strikes-down-chevron-curtailing-power-of-federal-agencies/.
“Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Decision, Curtailing Federal Agencies’ Power in Major Shift.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, www.cbsnews.com/news/supreme-court-chevron-deference-power-of-federal-agencies/. Accessed 30 June 2024.
Weber, Joseph, et al. “Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Decision, Curtailing Federal Agencies’ Power.” Just The News, justthenews.com/government/courts-law/supreme-court-overturns-chevron-decision-curtailing-federal-agencies-power. Accessed 30 June 2024.
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