lawfag here with more unseen and unreported habbenings in the multi front war against the administrative state
LUCIA VS SEC -decided March 2018 by SCOTUS - this case is much more than appears on the surface - at stake are issues of separation of powers and more significantly, executive appointments AND DISMISSALS of high level admin workers (think SES)
The case invoved an SEC penalty imposed by an SEC admin law judge - the person fined appealed claiming that an admin judge (employee of SEC) had no right to try and hear cases but that such matters must be heard by a constitutionally appointed Judge. All the lower courts said NO but SCOTUS agreed - ruling that admin judges ARE "officers of the USA" and must be appt. by POTUS - OR in this case appointed as "inferior officers" by someone selected by POTUS and given power to do so WITHOUT senate approval.
OK lets unpack this one anons its big - it gives POTUS a huge new tool with which to attack the admin state - much like the census citizen question which will (over time) lead to reduction in urban voter base and DIM congress seats - this one willl (over time) shift power over the bureaucracy - ESPECIALLY THE SES - away from the courts and congress to POTUS/executive branch. It deals with the difference between "employees" who are subject to all the laws (protections) offered by the DS - and "officers of the USA" whom are not so protected as they are executive appointees under the appointments clause of the constitution. (NOTE "inferior officers" are NOT subject to Senate confirmation!) As we know ALL those appointed by POTUS may be FIRED by POTUS - but NOT employees (SES) who are protected by DS laws.
NOW as anons know from many posts on this topic - SES is a fortress of DS power created by statute and protecting an entire class of high level DS employees by law from being fired by POTUS - even though they work for POTUS! What this case does is open up the entire federal govt. framework of "employees" to the legal challenge that they are in fact "inferior officers of the USA". These lawsuits ARE coming and will no doubt be used to attack various entrenched SES and many other positions.
This case signals that SCOTUS will take a broader and larger view of "inferior officers of the USA" opening the door to rulings on all SES and other high level insulated bureaucrat positions. Once a court rules they are NOT "employees" but are in fact "inferior officers" then POTUS can appoint AND terminate AT WILL. The legal test for this is whether the position "exercises significant authority pursuant to the laws of the United States.” WIDE OPEN IT IS.
The DS supporters fear this - their analysis says: "…this is alarming to defenders of expert, independent agency decision-making in its own way. Taken together, and with the Lucia implications, these could lead to a hyper-politicization of the previously independent and expert bureaucracy, especially under a president that seems bent on politicizing nearly everything."
KEK! THEY ARE IN PANIC EVERYWHERE
The case - tho i dont rec. reading it
https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/17pdf/17-130_4f14.pdf
Analysis - worth scanning conclusions
https://www.acslaw.org/analysis/acs-supreme-court-review/lucia-v-sec-and-the-attack-on-the-administrative-state/