Judicial Actions
Judicial actions include any court determination on a motion or a final opinion issued during litigation. The Tracker highlights decisions on court motions such as Preliminary Injunctions, which temporarily halt the activity at issue until the case is resolved, as well as opinions from trial courts, appellate courts, and the U.S. Supreme Court.
Judicial decisions are legally binding on the parties involved and, when issued by higher courts, can establish precedent, commonly known as case law.
Critical Judicial Actions
American Association of Cosmetology Schools v. U.S. Dept of Ed. and Ogle School Management v. U.S. Dept of Ed. (2024) Challenges Gainful Employment Rule
Description:
Two consolidated lawsuits attempted to challenge the Gainful Employment (GE) Rule, effective July 1, 2024, contending that the U.S. Department of Education exceeded Congress’s intent by using a debt-to-earnings metric to evaluate applicable programs. On October 2, 2025, the Court found for the Department, thus maintaining the Biden Era GE Rule.
West Virginia v. EPA (2022) - Major Questions Doctrine
Description:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruling established a principle call the “major questions doctrine” directing that for a Federal agency to implement regulations of “vast economic and political significance”, it must have clear authority from Congress.
Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo (2024) - Agency Authority
Description:
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Administrative Procedure Act requires courts to independently determine statutory meaning, rather than deferring to agencies to determine authority on ambiguous statutes.