It finally happened: The Supreme Court overturned Chevron deference, the 40-year doctrine requiring courts to defer to government agencies’ interpretation of vague laws. Chevron fueled the growth of the modern administrative state, allowing bureaucrats to seize power without being properly checked by courts. Now, thanks to the Court’s end-of-term decision in Loper Bright Enterprises/Relentless, there’s no longer a thumb on the scales of justice in favor of the government.
That’s not all: In another check on the abuse of administrative power, the Supreme Court ruled in SEC v. Jarkesy that federal agencies can’t impose civil penalties on defendants without allowing them a jury trial.
What exactly do these two decisions—Loper Bright Enterprises/Relentless and Jarkesy—mean for federal agencies going forward? Attorneys from Pacific Legal Foundation, New Civil Liberties Alliance (the firm that won Relentless), and Cause of Action Institute will take you through the rulings, explaining how they affect current lawsuits and the future of the administrative state.
