Chevron Law

Supreme Court Overturns Landmark Chevron Deference Doctrine

Landmark ruling weakens EPA's authority to regulate climate change

Legal experts say Chevron reversal will not eliminate EPA's obligation to regulate climate pollution

Washington, D.C. - The Supreme Court on Friday overturned a 1984 decision known as Chevron, which has instructed lower courts to defer to federal agencies' interpretations of their own regulations.

The 6-3 ruling, in a case involving herring fishermen, marks a significant weakening of the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) authority to regulate climate-warming pollution.

Legal experts say that the reversal of Chevron will not remove EPA's foundational legal obligation to regulate climate pollution. However, it could make it more difficult for the agency to defend its regulations in court.

"This is a major blow to the EPA's ability to regulate climate change," said David Doniger, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council. "But it does not eliminate EPA's obligation to regulate climate pollution under the Clean Air Act."

The Chevron deference doctrine was established in a 1984 case involving Chevron U.S.A., Inc. and the Natural Resources Defense Council. The Court ruled that courts should defer to federal agencies' interpretations of their own regulations unless those interpretations are "arbitrary and capricious."

In recent years, the Chevron deference doctrine has been criticized by conservatives, who argue that it gives too much power to federal agencies. The Supreme Court's ruling on Friday is a victory for those critics.

"This is a major victory for the rule of law," said Michael McConnell, a law professor at Stanford University. "The Chevron deference doctrine was a judicially created doctrine that gave federal agencies too much power to make law."

The Supreme Court's ruling is likely to have a significant impact on the EPA's ability to regulate climate change. The agency is currently working on a number of regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, including regulations for power plants and vehicles.

It is unclear how the Supreme Court's ruling will affect those regulations. However, it is clear that the EPA will have a more difficult time defending its regulations in court.