The Supreme Court on Friday killed off a judicial doctrine that has protected many federal regulations from legal challenges for decades — delivering a major victory for conservatives and business groups seeking to curb the power of the executive branch.

The 6-3 decision divided the court along ideological lines. Its fallout will make it harder for President Joe Biden or any future president to act on a vast array of policy areas, from wiping out student debt and expanding protections for pregnant workers to curbing climate pollution and regulating artificial intelligence.

Known as Chevron deference, the Reagan-era doctrine required judges to defer to agencies’ “reasonable” interpretations of “ambiguous” federal laws. Now, judges will be freer to impose their own readings of the law — giving them broad leeway to upend regulations on health care, the environment, financial regulations, technology and more.

  • BombOmOm@lemmy.world
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    6
    arrow-down
    25
    ·
    edit-2
    5 months ago

    The decision: https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/23pdf/22-451_7m58.pdf

    courts may not defer to an agency interpretation of the law simply because a statute is ambiguous; Chevron is overruled.

    Before it was common for the executive to put their own creative interpretation on a law, and the courts would just go with it. Now judges actually have to do their jobs and rule on the law, not simply defer to the executive. This is a big win for reducing administrative overreach.

    • Flying Squid@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      17
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      edit-2
      5 months ago

      Now judges actually have to do their jobs and rule on the law

      Oh you sweet summer child… how do you think our pro-corporate justice system will rule?

    • Fuzemain@lemmy.world
      link
      fedilink
      arrow-up
      13
      arrow-down
      1
      ·
      5 months ago

      A fair trial is a myth when the court has to agree to the other party’s understanding of the law, and that party has limitless resources.