Gov Brian Kemp is calling on the U.S. Supreme Court to overturn a 1984 ruling that requires federal courts to defer to government agencies’ interpretations of the statutes they enforce.
The justices agreed Monday to hear a case involving the power of the U.S. Commerce Department to require fishing operators to pay for federal monitors on their boats. Kemp has weighed in by filing an amicus – or, “friend of the court” – brief arguing the nearly four-decade-old decision in a lawsuit Chevron U.S.A. filed against the Natural Resources Defense Council.
It has been interpreted over the years to take authority away from state agencies, leading to regulatory instability for citizens and businesses. Supporters of the 1984 decision say an adverse decision in the current care would hamper the Biden administration’s efforts to address key issues such as climate change through regulation.
