Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch says America is ‘over ruled’

Justice Neil Gorsuch sits down with Margaret Hoover at the Supreme Court to talk about his new book, Over Ruled, and his concern that America has “too much law.”

In its recent term, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron doctrine, a precedent established in 1984 that required judges to defer to federal agencies when interpreting unclear statutes. Gorsuch explains why that longstanding approach had imposed unfair costs on many, including fishermen, immigrants, and the descendants of Ernest Hemingway’s six-toed cat.

Gorsuch discusses how bureaucrats and judges may approach regulation in a post-Chevron world and what it will take to confront the dangers of over-criminalization. He also reflects on why conservative views on Chevron evolved over time and how lawmakers in both parties have increasingly come to recognize the problem.

With public trust in the Supreme Court at a record low, Gorsuch addresses the need to restore confidence in the court, but he declines to wade into the political debate over term limits for justices or other controversies surrounding the court. He also explains why he remains optimistic about America’s future despite rising polarization and division.

Support for “Firing Line with Margaret Hoover” is provided by Robert Granieri, Vanessa and Henry Cornell, The Fairweather Foundation, Charles R. Schwab and Al and Kathy Hubbard. Corporate funding is provided by Stephens Inc.