No. 20-1026

Eagle Trust Fund v. United States Postal Service, et al.

Lower Court: District of Columbia
Docketed: 2021-01-28
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Response RequestedResponse WaivedRelisted (2) Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-procedure-act article-iii executive-action judicial-review non-apa-review postal-reorganization-act usps-rules
Key Terms:
AdministrativeLaw Arbitration JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2021-09-27 (distributed 2 times)
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Whether the Postal Reorganization Act impliedly bars non-APA review, including claims of USPS conduct or failure to follow its own rules

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED In two landmark suits against prior Postmasters General, this Court set bedrock principles of judicial review of executive action in equity. Kendall v. U.S. ex rel. Stokes, 37 U.S. (12 Pet.) 524 (1838); Am. Sch. of Magnetic Healing v. McAnnulty, 187 U.S. 94, 110 (1902). Kendall applies only to the district court here, and McAnnulty applies to all district courts. The Administrative Procedure Act (“APA”) and the Court’s APA precedents extend judicial review from those suffering “direct injury” (i.e., violation of legal rights) to those arguably within a looser zone of interests. The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 (“PRA”) exempted the Postal Service (“USPS”) from some APA applications. Air Courier Conf. v. Am. Postal Workers Union, 498 U.S. 517, 523 n.3 (1991), reserved the question of the scope of PRA’s exemption, noting that it “at most” barred APA review. Prior D.C. Circuit precedent holds the PRA to bar all non-APA nonstatutory review except ultra vires review. The Sixth and Seventh Circuits allow non-APA review to continue, including claims that USPS violated its own rules. The courts below extended the D.C. Circuit precedent — which had involved executive or quasi-legislative USPS action — to USPS adjudications, meaning that Article II administrative judges have unreviewable authority to redirect mail and property, in violation of Article III’s vesting federal judicial power in the judiciary. The questions presented are: 1. Whether the PRA impliedly bars non-APA review, including claims of conduct or failure to follow USPS’s own rules. 2. Whether the PRA violates Article III as applied to bar judicial review of USPS adjudications.

Docket Entries

2021-10-04
Petition DENIED.
2021-08-11
Reply of petitioners Eagle Trust Fund filed. (Distributed)
2021-08-11
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 9/27/2021.
2021-07-23
Brief of respondent United States Postal Service in opposition filed.
2021-07-16
Second supplemental brief of petitioner Eagle Trust Fund filed.
2021-07-07
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including July 23, 2021.
2021-07-02
Motion to extend the time to file a response from July 9, 2021 to July 23, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-06-09
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including July 9, 2021.
2021-06-08
Motion to extend the time to file a response from June 11, 2021 to July 9, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-05-11
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including June 11, 2021.
2021-05-10
Motion to extend the time to file a response from May 12, 2021 to June 11, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-03-17
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including May 12, 2021.
2021-03-16
Motion to extend the time to file a response from April 12, 2021 to May 12, 2021, submitted to The Clerk.
2021-03-12
Response Requested. (Due April 12, 2021)
2021-03-03
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/19/2021.
2021-02-23
Supplemental brief of petitioner Eagle Trust Fund filed.
2021-02-23
Waiver of right of respondent United States Postal Service to respond filed.
2021-01-25
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due March 1, 2021)

Attorneys

Eagle Trust Fund
Lawrence J. JosephLaw Office of Lawrence J. Joseph, Petitioner
United States Postal Service
Brian H. FletcherActing Solicitor General, Respondent