Supreme Court to Hear Big Challenge to Agency Powers in January

The US Supreme Court will hear a pair of cases Jan. 17 that could undercut the power of federal agencies.

The latest argument calendar released on Friday includes Relentless v. Dept. of Commerce and Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo. The cases center on a $710 fishing fee, but could affect a wide range of American life, from the environment to healthcare and the economy.

At issue is the landmark administrative principle known as the Chevron doctrine, which says that federal courts should defer to agency interpretation of an ambiguous law. While the justices have weakened the doctrine, those opposing the fishing fee urge the court to do away with it.

Conservatives have long criticized the Chevron doctrine as putting too much power in the hands of unelected bureaucrats. Liberals have defended it, saying it allows experts, not generalist judges, to make difficult and often technical determinations.

The cases are Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, U.S., No. 22-451 and Relentless, Inc. v. Dept. of Commerce, U.S., No. 22-1219.