Ian Millhiser, a Vox writer and expert on the Supreme Court, discusses the court's recent significant shifts. He analyzes how rulings are reshaping federal agency power, particularly the overruling of the Chevron doctrine. Millhiser raises alarms about the court's increasing involvement in trivial legal matters and its implications for governance. Additionally, he highlights the trend of citizens turning to the Supreme Court for disputes with federal agencies, stressing the need for informed voter influence over judicial decisions.
The Supreme Court is facing challenges with decision leaks and mistaken rulings, showcasing its fallibility.
The shift from agency-led decisions to judicial ones raises concerns of overwhelmed justices and potential ideological rulings.
Deep dives
The Supreme Court's Turmoil and Errors
The Supreme Court faces a tumultuous period as it hints at overturning Roe v. Wade and mishandles decision leaks. Investigations into leaks go unresolved, like the premature posting of an abortion ruling. Corrective actions and mistakes abound, such as confusing nitrogen oxide with nitrous oxide. Despite these blunders, the Court expands its workload significantly, showcasing its fallibility.
Chevron Doctrine and Lopreat Decision
The Chevron doctrine, foundational in administrative law, empowered federal agencies to make policy decisions over courts. The Lopreat decision, challenging Chevron, concerned payment obligations for federal observers on fishing vessels. It precipitated a shift towards courts deciding policy issues instead of agencies, risking increased judicial workload and ideological decisions.
Potential Impacts and Concerns
The Lopreat decision's ramifications could inundate the Supreme Court with numerous minute and obscure legal questions that may lack expertise. This shift from agency-led decisions to judicial ones raises concerns of overwhelmed justices and potential ideological rulings. The departure from Chevron's precedent towards increased judicial involvement in policy matters poses challenges to governance and democratic processes.
The Supreme Court just fundamentally changed how the federal government works. Vox’s Ian Millhiser explains.
This episode was produced by Victoria Chamberlin, edited by Amina Al-Sadi, fact-checked by Laura Bullard, engineered by Andrea Kristinsdottir and Patrick Boyd, and hosted by Sean Rameswaram.