The Supreme Court wrapped up its October 2021 Term on Thursday, concluding a consequential session that featured landmark rulings and bid farewell to retiring staff with centuries of collective service to the nation’s highest court.
Chief Justice John Roberts announced the Court’s recess until October as justices completed action on all pending cases with a final Order List released at 10:45 a.m. on June 30. The term’s conclusion comes after a series of contentious decisions that significantly reshaped American legal landscape.
End of Term Acknowledgments
In a statement marking the term’s end, Chief Justice Roberts expressed gratitude to the Court’s personnel and legal practitioners. “On behalf of all the Justices, I would like to thank the Supreme Court employees for their outstanding work and dedication to their important responsibilities this Term. I thank the members of the Court’s bar as well for their professionalism and cooperation,” Roberts stated.
The Court also recognized several retiring employees whose service spans generations. “Collectively, these individuals have rendered more than five centuries of Supreme Court service,” the Court noted. Departing staff included longtime employees from various departments including the Clerk’s Office, Marshal’s Office, chambers staff, Supreme Court Police, and key positions like IT Director and Librarian.
Major Environmental Ruling Caps Term
What might be remembered as the term’s final significant decision? The Court’s 6-3 ruling in West Virginia v. EPA delivered a substantial blow to federal climate regulation efforts, holding that the Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan exceeded the agency’s authority without explicit congressional approval.
The conservative majority determined the case fell under the “major questions doctrine,” requiring clear congressional authorization for agency actions of vast economic and political significance. The decision effectively limits the EPA’s ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants through generation shifting – a key strategy in addressing climate change.
Environmental advocates were quick to condemn the ruling. Sambhav Sankar, Senior Vice President at Earthjustice, criticized the decision as “a blow to the federal government’s efforts to combat the climate crisis” that “puts the interests of polluting industries over important environmental and public health protections.”
Despite the setback, legal experts note the ruling still leaves room for the EPA to pursue alternative regulatory approaches. The agency is expected to issue new carbon regulations that could withstand judicial scrutiny under the Court’s narrowed interpretation of agency authority.
The Court now enters its summer recess until the first Monday in October 2022, when the justices will return to face another docket of potentially consequential cases – leaving both supporters and critics of this term’s decisions to contemplate the Court’s evolving jurisprudence and its implications for American governance.
