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Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council (Chevron doctrine)

No. 1:05-cv-01207 SCOTUS · Decided Teaching/Historical SCOTUS
Decided: Sep 23, 2009
Court
Supreme Court
caed
Judge
Lawrence J. O'Neill
Decided
Sep 23, 2009
Filed
Sep 23, 2005
Judge (CL)
Lawrence J. O'Neill
Filed (CL)
Sep 23, 2005
CL Status
terminated

Case Overview

For 40 years, Chevron v. NRDC was the rule that told federal judges to defer to a government agency's interpretation of any ambiguous law in its jurisdiction — the theory being that EPA experts know more about pesticides than a judge does. That rule was overturned in 2024 by Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo, and now judges can defer to agencies but don't have to. It comes up constantly in Bryan's coverage because every fight over DOGE cuts, regulatory rollbacks, and agency authority has a Chevron-doctrine angle underneath it.

Legal Issues

separation of powersnon-delegation doctrineexecutive powerlegislative powerjudicial powerrulemakingChevron deferenceEnlightenmenttripartite governmentcivics

BrynoDC Coverage 2 videos

The Conclusion

**Chevron established the doctrine that federal courts must defer to agency interpretations of ambiguous statutes within their jurisdiction.** This foundational rule governed administrative law for 40 years until overturned by Loper Lights Enterprises v. Raimondo in 2024, fundamentally shifting judicial review standards for regulatory authority nationwide.

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Docket

CourtListener ↗
SCOTUS TMR-b1e9c831 May 28, 2026

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