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John Paul Stevens on Energy & Oil
Supreme Court Justice (nominated by Pres. Ford 1975)
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Let courts decide what's secret in Cheney energy task force.
Justice Stevens joined the Court's decision on Cheney vs. DC Court on Jun 24, 2004:
Court rules, 7-2, in the case of V.P. Dick Cheney v. U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia: The Sierra Club and Judicial Watch sued Cheney and his energy task force, which was made up of government officials and advised by executives in the energy industry, to try to make them reveal details about the group's meetings. Cheney said the group was shielded by the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which allows groups made up of government officials to keep the proceedings secret. The Sierra Club and Judicial Watch, however, said the executives were active enough in the group to be considered de facto members.
HELD: Kennedy, joined by Rehnquist, Stevens, O'Connor, Breyer
The court says the appeals court acted "prematurely" when it denied Cheney's request to keep confidential the details of his energy-task force meetings.
The Court ruled that the case should be returned to the lower court for a new decision on disclosure.After the case was returned to the lower court, on May 9, 2005, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled that the Vice President's Energy Task Force did not have to comply with disclosure.
CONCURRENCE: Concurring in part; dissenting in part: by Thomas; joined by Scalia
Clarence Thomas and Scalia would have had the case end there with Cheney not having to disclose any information. DISSENT: Dissent by Ginsburg; joined by Souter
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was joined by David H. Souter in dissenting, arguing the Supreme Court should let the case proceed in the District Court.
Source: Supreme Court case 04-CHENEY argued on Apr 27, 2004
Page last updated: Feb 01, 2020