On March 26, 2025, the spotlight is on the U.S. Supreme Court as it prepares to hear oral arguments in the case FCC v. Consumers’ Research. This case questions the validity of a Federal Communications Commission (FCC) program designed to subsidize telephone and internet services in schools, libraries, and underserved communities. The outcome has the potential to significantly limit federal agencies’ regulatory powers.
Central to this debate is the revival of the nondelegation doctrine, a legal theory promoting the notion that Congress cannot delegate its legislative powers to other entities or agencies. Historically, the application of this doctrine has been rare, last observed in 1935. Proponents, often conservative lawyers and business groups, argue for its resurgence as a check on federal agency overreach. The hearing will commence shortly after 10 a.m. EDT, and the proceedings can be followed live online.
As part of the Wednesday morning briefing provided by SCOTUSblog, several other critical articles and commentaries have been highlighted:
- The Supreme Court’s denial of a youth climate crisis appeal, discussed by John Fritze at CNN.
- A retrospective on a significant lawsuit involving children suing the U.S. government for climate action, covered by Karen Zraick in The New York Times.
- An exploration of how a new Supreme Court case might impact which employers are obligated to contribute to unemployment benefits, by Brit Morse at Fortune.
- Insights into a complex voting-rights case currently being addressed by the Supreme Court, as reported by The Economist.
- A critique on judicial impeachments, penned by William McGurn in The Wall Street Journal.
These articles highlight the multifaceted nature of the legal challenges facing the highest court in the United States, all within the broader context of pivotal issues such as regulatory power, climate change, unemployment benefits, voting rights, and judicial proceedings. Legal professionals globally are poised to scrutinize these developments and their implications on the legal landscape.