Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/20pdf/19-508_l6gn.pdf
Page Number: 6

Cite as:  593 U. S. ____ (2021) 

3 

Opinion of the Court 

Ninth Circuit rejected Tucker’s claim.  910 F. 3d 417 (2018).
It pointed to Circuit precedent that had interpreted §13(b)
as “empower[ing] district courts to grant any ancillary relief
necessary to accomplish complete justice, including restitu-
tion.”  FTC  v.  Commerce  Planet,  Inc.,  815  F. 3d  593,  598 
(2016); see also FTC v. H. N. Singer, Inc., 668 F. 2d 1107, 
1113 (CA9 1982).  Two judges, while recognizing that prec-
edent  in  many  Circuits  supported  that  use  of  §13(b),  ex-
pressed doubt as to the correctness of that precedent. 

Tucker then sought certiorari in this Court.  In light of
recent differences that have emerged among the Circuits as
to the scope of §13(b), we granted his petition. 

II 
The  Federal  Trade  Commission  Act  prohibits,  and  au-
thorizes  the  Commission  to  prevent,  “[u]nfair  methods  of 
competition” and “unfair or deceptive acts or practices.”  15 
U. S. C. §§45(a)(1)–(2).  The Act permits the Commission to
use both its own administrative proceedings (set forth in §5
of the Act) and court actions in exercising this authority.  In 
construing §13(b), it is helpful to understand how the Com-
mission’s  authority  (and  its  interpretation  of  that  author-
ity) has evolved over time.

Ever since the Commission’s creation in 1914, it has been 
authorized to enforce the Act through its own administra-
tive proceedings.  Section 5 of the Act describes the relevant 
administrative proceedings in some detail.  If the Commis-
sion has “reason to believe” that a party “has been or is us-
ing any unfair method of competition or unfair or deceptive 
act or practice,” it can file a complaint against the claimed
violator and adjudicate its claim before an Administrative
Law Judge.  §45(b).  The ALJ then conducts a hearing and 
writes a report setting forth findings of fact and reaching a
legal conclusion.  Ibid.  If the ALJ concludes that the con-
duct at issue was unfair or misleading, the ALJ will issue