Supreme Court Overturns Chevron Decision

Court Rejects Longstanding Deference to Agency Interpretations

Landmark Ruling Shifts Balance of Power in Washington D.C.

Washington, D.C. - June 28, 2024 - The Supreme Court on Friday delivered a seismic blow to the balance of power in Washington D.C., overruling the Chevron doctrine, a landmark 1984 decision that had granted significant deference to federal agencies' interpretations of their own regulations.

The court's 6-3 ruling in West Virginia v. EPA strikes down a key provision of the Clean Air Act, which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had interpreted to allow it to regulate carbon emissions from power plants. The decision represents a major victory for Republican lawmakers and industry groups who have long argued against the Chevron doctrine.

In a sharp dissent, Justice Elena Kagan warned that the ruling "will make it harder for agencies to protect the public from harm." She argued that the Chevron doctrine had provided a "modest check" on the judiciary's ability to second-guess agency expertise, and that its demise would invite a "flood of litigation."

The overturning of the Chevron doctrine is a major shift in the legal landscape. It is likely to have far-reaching implications for the regulation of everything from environmental protection to financial markets.