Supreme Court Reevaluates Chevron Deference Doctrine

Landmark Ruling Comes After Conservative Pushback

On June 28, 2024, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of West Virginia in West Virginia v. Environmental Protection Agency, a case that challenged the Chevron deference doctrine. The doctrine, established in the 1984 case Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, gives courts deference to agencies' reasonable interpretations of ambiguous statutes.

The Court's ruling came in one of three cases during the 2023-24 term seeking to curtail the power of federal agencies, a conservative effort. The Court granted certiorari in these cases limited to the question of whether Chevron deference is still appropriate.

The challenge to Chevron deference stemmed from a 2020 federal appeals court ruling that found the EPA had exceeded its authority when it interpreted the Clean Air Act to allow it to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. West Virginia, supported by several other states and industry groups, argued that the EPA's interpretation was unreasonable and that Chevron deference should not be applied.

The Supreme Court agreed with West Virginia, ruling that Chevron deference is not always appropriate and that courts should give more scrutiny to agencies' interpretations of statutes. The Court also noted that there have been over 70 Supreme Court decisions relying on Chevron, along with 17,000 in the lower courts, suggesting that the doctrine has been applied too broadly.

The Court's ruling is a significant victory for conservatives who have long sought to limit the power of federal agencies. It is also a blow to environmental groups, who rely on Chevron deference to defend regulations that protect the environment.