No. 18-976

Association of American Railroads v. Department of Transportation, et al.

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2019-01-28
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (1) Experienced Counsel
Tags: arbitration arbitration-provision due-process government-corporation industry-regulation regulatory-authority rulemaking rulemaking-power self-interested-actor separation-of-powers
Key Terms:
Arbitration DueProcess FifthAmendment
Latest Conference: 2019-05-30
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether PRIIA § 207 violates due process and the separation of powers by permitting regulatory authority to be exercised by a for-profit government corporation that participates in the very industry it is empowered to regulate

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED Section 207 of the Passenger Rail Investment and Improvement Act (PRIIA) gives Amtrak, a for-profit government corporation, joint rulemaking authority with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) over the private freight railroads that compete with Amtrak—and empowers an arbitrator with the ultimate authority to promulgate the regulations if Amtrak and FRA cannot agree. Following a remand from this Court for resolution of the “substantial” constitutional questions presented, see Dep’t of Transp. v. Ass’n Am. R.R.s, 135 S. Ct. 1225 (2015), a panel of the D.C. Circuit struck down Section 207 in its entirety as violating due process because it “authoriz[es] an economically selfinterested actor to regulate its competitors.” A different panel of the D.C. Circuit later reinstated the grant of rulemaking power to Amtrak and FRA by severing the arbitration provision, holding that severance cured the constitutional infirmity. The questions presented are: 1. Whether PRIIA § 207 violates due process and the separation of powers by permitting regulatory authority to be exercised by a for-profit government corporation that participates in the very industry it is empowered to regulate. 2. Whether PRIIA § 207’s grant of rulemaking power to Amtrak and FRA can be sustained by severing the arbitration provision.

Docket Entries

2019-06-03
Petition DENIED. Justice Kavanaugh took no part in the consideration or decision of this petition.
2019-05-14
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 5/30/2019.
2019-05-13
Reply of petitioner Association of American Railroads filed.
2019-04-26
Brief of respondents Department of Transportation, et al. in opposition filed.
2019-03-07
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including April 26, 2019.
2019-03-06
Motion to extend the time to file a response from March 29, 2019 to April 26, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-02-27
Brief amici curiae of Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al. filed.
2019-02-25
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including March 29, 2019.
2019-02-22
Motion to extend the time to file a response from February 27, 2019 to March 29, 2019, submitted to The Clerk.
2019-01-22
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due February 27, 2019)

Attorneys

Association of American Railroads
Thomas Henderson Dupree Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, Petitioner
Thomas Henderson Dupree Jr.Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP, Petitioner
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, et al.
C. Frederick Beckner IIISidley Austin LLP, Amicus
C. Frederick Beckner IIISidley Austin LLP, Amicus
Department of Transportation, et al.
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent
Noel J. FranciscoSolicitor General, Respondent