No. 24-156

Leachco, Inc. v. Consumer Product Safety Commission, et al.

Lower Court: Tenth Circuit
Docketed: 2024-08-13
Status: Denied
Type: Paid
Amici (5) Experienced Counsel
Tags: administrative-agency constitutional-law due-process preliminary-injunction presidential-removal-power separation-of-powers
Key Terms:
Securities JusticiabilityDoctri
Latest Conference: 2025-01-10
Question Presented (AI Summary)

Does the for-cause restriction on the President's removal of CPSC Commissioners violate the separation of powers, and can such a violation constitute irreparable harm for preliminary injunctive relief?

Question Presented (OCR Extract)

QUESTIONS PRESENTED For over two years, Petitioner Leachco, Inc., has been subjected to an administrative proceeding by Respondent Consumer Product Safety Commission, an Executive Branch agency whose Commissioners cannot be removed by the President except for cause. Leachco, like petitioners in Axon Enterprise, Inc. v. FTC, 598 U.S. 175, 191 (2023), is thus suffering an ongoing here-and-now injury that will be “impossible to remedy” once the proceeding is over. To obtain “meaningful” judicial relief before it’s “too late,” id., Leachco sued in federal court for a preliminary injunction. But the Tenth Circuit affirmed the district court’s denial and held (1) the Commissioners’ for-cause removal protections are likely constitutional and, regardless, (2) relief is precluded because, unlike violations of “individual” constitutional rights, violations of the separation of powers can never cause irreparable harm. The questions presented are: 1. Does the for-cause restriction on the President’s authority to remove the CPSC’s Commissioners violate the separation of powers? See Consumers’ Research v. CPSC, No. 28-1323, cert petition at i (June 14, 2024) (presenting substantively identical question). 2. Should Humphrey’s Executor v. United States, 295 U.S. 602 (1935), be overruled? 3. For purposes of relief, can a violation cause irreparable harm—as this Court and several circuits hold—or can violations never cause irreparable harm—as the Tenth Circuit alone holds?

Docket Entries

2025-01-13
Petition DENIED.
2024-12-04
DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/10/2025.
2024-11-27
2024-11-14
Brief of respondents Consumer Product Safety Commission, et al. in opposition filed.
2024-11-14
Brief of Consumer Product Safety Commission, et al. in opposition submitted.
2024-10-01
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is further extended to and including November 14, 2024.
2024-09-27
Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 15, 2024 to November 14, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-09-12
2024-09-12
Brief amici curiae of Competitive Enterprise Institute, et al. filed.
2024-09-12
2024-09-12
2024-09-12
2024-09-12
Amicus brief of Americans for Prosperity Foundation submitted.
2024-09-12
Amicus brief of Cato Institute, NFIB Small Business Legal Center, Inc., and Buckeye Institute submitted.
2024-09-12
Amicus brief of State of West Virginia and 17 Other States submitted.
2024-09-12
Amicus brief of Competitive Enterprise Institute and Manhattan Institute submitted.
2024-08-20
Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including October 15, 2024.
2024-08-19
Motion to extend the time to file a response from September 12, 2024 to October 15, 2024, submitted to The Clerk.
2024-08-19
Motion of Consumer Product Safety Commission, et al. for an extension of time submitted.
2024-08-09
Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due September 12, 2024)

Attorneys

Advancing American Freedom
John Marc WheatAdvancing American Freedom, Inc., Amicus
John Marc WheatAdvancing American Freedom, Inc., Amicus
Americans for Prosperity Foundation
Michael David PepsonAmericans for Prosperity Foundation, Amicus
Michael David PepsonAmericans for Prosperity Foundation, Amicus
Cato Institute, NFIB Small Business Legal Center, Inc., and Buckeye Institute
Thomas Arthur BerryCato Institute, Amicus
Thomas Arthur BerryCato Institute, Amicus
Competitive Enterprise Institute and Manhattan Institute
Charles Devin WatkinsCompetitive Enterprise Institute, Amicus
Charles Devin WatkinsCompetitive Enterprise Institute, Amicus
Consumer Product Safety Commission, et al.
Elizabeth B. Prelogar — Respondent
Elizabeth B. PrelogarSolicitor General, Respondent
Leachco, Inc.
Oliver James DunfordPacific Legal Foundation, Petitioner
Oliver James DunfordPacific Legal Foundation, Petitioner
Frank Dawson Garrison IVPacific Legal Foundation, Petitioner
Frank Dawson Garrison IVPacific Legal Foundation, Petitioner
State of West Virginia and 17 Other States
Michael Ray WilliamsOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus
Michael Ray WilliamsOffice of the West Virginia Attorney General, Amicus