Legal Document

500 U.S. 160 111 S.Ct. 1752 114 L.Ed.2d 219 Daniel TOUBY, et ux., Petitionersv.UNITED STATES. No. 90-6282. Argued April 17, 1991. Decided May 20, Syllabus The Controlled Substances Act authorizes the Attorney General, upon compliance with specified procedures, to add new drugs five "schedules" of controlled substances, manufacture, possession, and distribution which regulates or prohibits. Because Act's procedures resulted in lengthy delays, drug traffickers were able develop market "designer drugs"—which have pharmacological effects similar to, but chemical compositions slightly different from, scheduled substances—long before Government was schedule them initiate prosecutions. To combat this problem, Congress added § 201(h) Act, creating an expedited procedure by General can a substance on temporary basis when doing so is "necessary avoid imminent hazard public safety," providing that scheduling order not subject judicial review. promulgated regulations delegating, inter alia, his power Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), subsequently temporarily designated designer "Euphoria" as I substance. While effect, petitioners indicted for manufacturing conspiring manufacture Euphoria. District Court denied their motion dismiss, rejecting contentions unconstitutionally delegates legislative improperly delegated authority DEA. Appeals affirmed petitioners' subsequent convictions. Held: 1. Section does delegate General. Pp. 164-169. (a) nondelegation doctrine prevent from seeking assistance coordinate Branch, long it lays down "intelligible principle" person body authorized act directed conform. See, e.g., J.W. Hampton, Jr. & Co. v. United States, 276 394, 409, 48 348, 352, 72 L.Ed. 624. 201(h)'s "imminent safety" standard concededly such principle. Moreover, even if more specific guidance required another Branch promulgate contemplate criminal sanctions, passes muster. Although features fewer procedural requirements than permanent statute, section meaningfully constrains placing multiple restrictions discretion define conduct. He must also satisfy 202(b)'s adding substances schedules. 164-167. (b) violate principle separation powers concentrating too much who wields prosecute crimes. separation-of-powers focuses among three coequal Branches Government, see Mistretta 488 361, 382, 109 647, 659, 102 714, speak manner parcels out within Executive Branch. 167-168. (c) barring Since 507 plainly review order, effect bar merely postpone legal challenges until administrative process has run its course. preclude individual facing charges bringing challenge defense prosecution. In these circumstances, require addition opportunity pre-enforcement determinations. 168-169. 2. did 501(a) delegation "any [the General's] functions" under Act—permits unless limitation appears elsewhere Act. See States Giordano, 416 505, 512-514, 94 1820, 1825-1826, 40 341. No regard power. P. 169. 909 F.2d 759 (CA3 1990), affirmed. O'CONNOR, J., delivered opinion unanimous Court. MARSHALL, filed concurring opinion, BLACKMUN, joined. Joel I. Klein, Washington, D.C., petitioners. Jeffrey Minear, respondent. Justice O'CONNOR 1 Petitioners convicted "Euphoria," pursuant 98 Stat. 2071, 21 U.S.C. 811(h). We consider whether General's subdelegation (DEA) statute. 2 * 1970, enacted (Act), 84 1242, amended, 801 seq. establishes categories Violations involving carry most severe penalties, are believed pose serious threat safety. Relevant here, 201(a) remove move one another. 201(a), 811(a). 3 When schedule, follow procedures. First, request scientific medical evaluation Secretary Health Human Services (HHS), together recommendation should be controlled. A cannot recommends against it. 201(b), 811(b). Second, eight factors respect substance, including potential abuse, evidence psychic physiological dependence liability, immediate precursor already 201(c), 811(c). Third, comply notice-and-hearing provisions Administrative Procedure 5 §§ 551-559, permit comment interested parties. addition, permits any aggrieved court appeals. 507, 877. 4 It takes time requirements. From law enforcement officials identify dangerous drug, typically 6 12 months S.Rep. 98-225, p. 264 (1984), U.S.Code Cong. Admin.News 1984, 3182. take advantage gap designing differing composition, existing schedules apply them. These drugs" developed widely marketed ibid. drug" 1984 amended create safety." 201(h), Temporary allows bypass, limited time, several scheduling. need only 201(h)(3), 811(h)(3). Rather APA provisions, provide 30-day notice proposed Federal Register. 201(h)(1), 811(h)(1). Notice transmitted HHS, Secretary's prior approval required. 201(h)(4), 811(h)(4). Finally, 201(h)(6), 811(h)(6), provides "is review." requirements, enables respond quickly posed drugs. issued 30 days after identified, remains valid year. During 1-year period, presumably will process, case additional six months. 201(h)(2), 811(h)(2). delegating DEA basis. 28 CFR 0.100(b) (1990). Pursuant delegation, Administrator 4-methylaminorex, known commonly 52 Fed.Reg. 38225 (1987). initiated formal rulemaking following Euphoria permanently 7 agents, executing search warrant, discovered fully operational laboratory Lyrissa Touby's home. Toubys They moved dismiss indictment grounds New Jersey 710 F.Supp. 551 (1989); Third Circuit convictions, granted certiorari, 498 ----, 751, 112 771 (1991), now affirm. II 8 Constitution "[a]ll Powers herein shall vested States." Const., Art. I, language derived doctrine: may constitutionally government. "The rooted underlies our tripartite system Government." 371, 654, 714 (1989). 9 recognized assistance, proper limits, Branches. Id., at 372, S.Ct., 654. Thus, because legislates broad terms, leaving certain degree executive actors. So "lay[s] intelligible [act] conform, action forbidden power." Jr., 624 (1928). 10 wisely concede set forth constrain upheld sufficient statutes authorizing War Department recover "excessive profits" earned military contracts, Lichter 334 742, 778-786, 68 1294, 1313-1317, 92 1694 (1948); Price fix "fair equitable" commodities prices, Yakus 321 414, 426-427, 64 660, 668-669, 88 834 (1944); Communications Commission regulate broadcast licensing "public interest," National Broadcasting 319 190, 225-226, 63 997, 1013-1014, 87 1344 (1943). light precedents, plausibly argue 11 suggest, however, something sanctions. contend sort heightened risk liberty therefore guidance. Our cases entirely clear fact Compare Fahey Mallonee, 332 245, 249-250, 67 1552, 1553-1554, 91 2030 (1947), cited Mistretta, supra, U.S., 373, n. 7, 655, Yakus, 423-427, 666-669, Grimaud, 220 506, 518, 521, 31 480, 483, 484, 55 563 (1911). resolve issue today. conclude muster greater congressional specificity context. temporarily, find making determination, he "required consider" factors: drug's "history current pattern abuse"; "[t]he scope, duration, significance "[w]hat, any, there health." 201(c)(4)-(6), 811(c)(4)-(6), Included other statute places special emphasis: "actual diversion legitimate channels, clandestine importation, distribution." publish Register, transmit "take into consideration comments submitted response." 811(h)(1), 13 satisfying numerous 202(b), 812(b). This identifies criteria each As acknowledges brief, 202(b) speaks mandatory drawing no distinction between With exceptions pertinent states "a placed findings made substance." apart hazard" determination wishes "has high abuse," currently accepted use treatment States," "[t]here lack safety . supervision." 202(b)(1), 812(b)(1). 14 constitutional doctrine. 15 point two aspects allegedly render unconstitutional. first concentrates legitimately authorize someone insist allowing both particular those violates powers. do object gives "veto power" HHS. Brief 20. 16 argument jurisprudence. Branches, 659; parceled single vests all President, II, 1, President whom report. Petitioners' been officer rather implicate concerns; wisdom policy judgment Congress. 17 next unconstitutional bars explain purpose requiring " 'ascertain obeyed.' Skinner Mid-America Pipeline Co., 490 212, 218, 1726, 1731, 104 250 (1989), quoting 426, 668. By review," purportedly 18 reject argument. order. 201(h)(6) up months, consistent Congress' express desire appearance Even entered, possible circumstances. contends, we agree, 34-36. Skinner, Under require, III 19 Having concluded claim permitted extent Congress, 20 disagree. functions Act] employee Justice." 501(a), 871(a). interpreted function 341 (1974). 201(h). Affirmed. 22 BLACKMUN joins, concurring. 23 join Court's write separately emphasize points underlying my vote. conclusion defendant course prosecution essential result case. 811(h)(6) Title expressly prohibits direct says nothing about settings. established rules construction, presume silence matter intend foreclose Estep 327 114, 120-122, 66 423, 90 567 (1946). generally McNary Haitian Refugee Center, Inc., 888, 1005 (1991); Abbott Laboratories Gardner, 387 136, 140-141, 1507, 1510-1512, 681 (1967). An reinforces here. notes, perfects delegated-lawmaking scheme assuring exercise statutory bounds. 218-219, 1730-1731, impact laws liberty, believe lawmaker's directives necessity standards enforced law. Cf. Mendoza-Lopez, 481 828, 837-839, 107 2148, 2154-2156, 95 772 (1987); Hart, Power Limit Jurisdiction Courts: Exercise Dialectic, Harv.L.Rev. 1362, 1379-1383 (1953). read preserving save lawmaking unconstitutionality. Webster Doe, 486 592, 603-604, 108 2047, 2053-2054, 100 632 (1988). 24 second wish understanding breadth holding. agree relates allocation But means suggests whole indifferent how permissibly distributed particular, Due Process Clause limits prosecutorial combined actor. Morrissey Brewer, 408 471, 485-487, 2593, 2602-2603, 33 484 (1972). raise due case, understand anything today's decision detracting teachings jurisprudence generally.

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