Gonzales v. Oregon

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Gonzales v. Oregon
Court U.S. Supreme Court
Citation 546 U.S. 243 (2006)
126 S.Ct. 904 (2006)
Date decided January 17, 2006
Appealed from U.S. Court of Appeals, 9th Circuit

Facts

Oregon made physician assisted suicide legal. Attorney General John Ashcroft issued an Interpretive Rule announcing his intent to restrict the use of controlled substances for physician assisted suicide, pursuant to the congressional Controlled Substances Act.

Issues

Whether the Controlled Substances Act allows the Attorney General to prohibit doctors from prescribing regulated drugs for use in physician-assisted suicide.

Holding

Judgment for Oregon.

Rule

Deference is only warranted when it appears that Congress delegated authority to the agency generally to make rules carrying the force of law, and that the agency interpretation claiming deference was promulgated in the exercise of that authority.

Resources