The Supreme Court appeared ready to back limited forfeiture powers for federal agencies during oral arguments Tuesday, in a pair of challenges to the ability for the Federal Communications Commission to impose fines on alleged lawbreakers.
Telecommunications giants AT&T and Verizon asked the justices to toss more than $100 million in forfeitures imposed by the FCC, arguing the agency’s process violated the constitutional right to a jury trial under the Seventh Amendment.
The cases come amid a years-long shakeup by the conservative-controlled court to curtail the power of federal agencies and limit Congress’ ability to give them those powers in the first place.
