The Supreme Court is wrapping up its summer session. So, get ready for major decisions that could upend years of policy—and perhaps have an impact on the 2024 Election. In 2022, the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, which had an outsized effect on the midterms.
But now, the court is weighing in on issues that could affect every last American.
This week, the court issued a ruling on a long-standing but controversial policy. This policy, known as the “Chevron deference” doctrine, gave power to the executive branch, which is supposed to stay with the courts. Agencies had the power to decide regulations that only courts should decide. And the highest court in the land had something to say about that.
The Supreme Court on Friday curtailed the executive branch’s ability to interpret laws it’s charged with implementing, giving the judiciary more say in what federal agencies can do.
Why it matters: The landmark 6-3 ruling along ideological lines overturns the court’s 40-year-old “Chevron deference” doctrine. It could make it harder for executive agencies to tackle a wide array of policy areas, including environmental and health regulations and labor and employment laws.
Driving the news: Chief Justice John Roberts, writing the opinion of the court, argued Chevron “defies the command of” the Administrative Procedure Act, which governs federal administrative agencies…
Further, he said it “is misguided” because “agencies have no special competence in resolving statutory ambiguities. Courts do.” [Source: Axios]
The Supreme Court overturned the “Chevron deference” doctrine, a policy that has been in place since the Reagan era. This policy required courts to defer to federal agencies in interpreting laws. That meant the EPA had more power than the courts when deciding on environmental issues.
To the casual observer, that appeared to undermine the Constitution’s requirement that the courts—not agencies run by the president—are supposed to interpret laws. For over 40 years, the White House had direct control over how businesses were regulated, which seemed to violate the Constitution.
All six right-leaning justices voted to overturn this doctrine, which outraged the liberal wing of the court. This ruling could very well defang the federal government’s ability to manhandle private businesses. It might even shut down infamous decisions from the Biden administration, such as those hurting energy prices.
Author: Bo Dogan