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William Rehnquist on Energy & Oil

Supreme Court Justice (nominated by Pres. Nixon 1972)

 


Let courts decide what's secret in Cheney energy task force.

Justice Rehnquist 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

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Other Justices on Energy & Oil: William Rehnquist on other issues:
Samuel Alito(since 2006)
Stephen Breyer(since 1994)
Ruth Bader Ginsburg(since 1993)
Elena Kagan(since 2010)
Anthony Kennedy(since 1988)
John Roberts(since 2005)
Sonia Sotomayor(since 2009)
Clarence Thomas(since 1991)

Former Justices:
Merrick Garland(nominated 2016)
Antonin Scalia(1986-2016)
John Paul Stevens(1975-2010)
David Souter(1990-2009)
Sandra Day O'Connor(1981-2006)
William Rehnquist(1975-2005)

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Page last updated: Feb 02, 2020