Supreme Court Ruling Boosts Presidential Control Over Key Federal Jobs

Supreme Court Ruling Boosts Presidential Control Over Key Federal Jobs
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington, D.C., June 11, 2018. Reuters/Erin Schaff
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WASHINGTON—The U.S. Supreme Court gave presidents more control over key jobs in federal agencies on June 21, ruling that the way the Securities and Exchange Commission selected in-house judges who enforce investor protection laws violated the U.S. Constitution.

The justices agreed with President Donald Trump’s administration that the SEC, in having low-level staff install administrative law judges, infringed upon powers given to the president in the U.S. Constitution’s “appointments clause” regarding the filling of certain federal posts.