2007 in American law

2007 in American law was a year marked by significant Supreme Court rulings that reshaped doctrines on affirmative action, campaign finance, and antitrust law. Major federal legislation addressed minimum wage, energy policy, and education competitiveness, while state-level actions on health care and immigration signaled growing policy divergence. The year also saw pivotal legal events stemming from the ongoing War on Terror and corporate scandals.

Legislation

The 110th United States Congress, controlled by the Democratic Party, passed several landmark bills. The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 incrementally raised the federal minimum wage for the first time in a decade. In response to global economic competition, the America COMPETES Act authorized funding for scientific research and STEM education programs. A major energy bill, the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, raised Corporate Average Fuel Economy standards and promoted renewable energy. Other notable acts included the FDA Amendments Act of 2007, which strengthened drug safety oversight by the Food and Drug Administration, and the Honest Leadership and Open Government Act, which aimed to increase lobbying transparency following scandals involving Jack Abramoff.

Judicial appointments

While no new Associate Justices were confirmed in 2007, Samuel Alito, who had been sworn in late in 2006, participated in his first full term on the Supreme Court, solidifying its conservative tilt. At the lower federal court level, the Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Patrick Leahy, confirmed several judges to the United States courts of appeals and district courts, though confirmation rates slowed amid increasing partisan tension. Notable confirmations included Deborah L. Cook to the United States Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit and Ralph R. Erickson to the United States District Court for the District of North Dakota.

Supreme Court cases

The Roberts Court issued several consequential decisions. In Parents Involved in Community Schools v. Seattle School District No. 1, the Court limited the use of race in public school assignment plans, dealing a blow to voluntary affirmative action programs. The decision in Federal Election Commission v. Wisconsin Right to Life, Inc. further chipped away at the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act by allowing certain issue-advocacy advertisements close to elections. In the antitrust realm, Leegin Creative Leather Products, Inc. v. PSKS, Inc. overturned a nearly century-old precedent by ruling that minimum resale price maintenance agreements should be evaluated under the rule of reason. Other significant rulings included Morse v. Frederick, which upheld school authority to restrict student speech perceived to promote illegal drug use, and Hein v. Freedom From Religion Foundation, which limited taxpayer standing to challenge executive branch expenditures.

State law developments

States acted as laboratories for major policy shifts, particularly in health care reform. Massachusetts implemented its pioneering health care reform law, which served as a model for the later Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. In contrast, several states, including Arizona, Colorado, and Oklahoma, passed stringent laws targeting illegal immigration, leading to legal challenges under the Supremacy Clause. California continued its leadership on environmental regulation by passing the Low Carbon Fuel Standard and the Global Warming Solutions Act. Additionally, New Jersey became the third state to abolish the death penalty, following leads by New York and New Mexico.

Notable legal events

Legal proceedings from the War on Terror remained prominent, with the Military Commissions Act of 2006 facing ongoing constitutional challenges in cases involving detainees at Guantanamo Bay detention camp. The Libby trial resulted in the conviction of Lewis "Scooter" Libby, former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, for obstruction of justice and perjury in the Plame affair. In corporate law, the sentencing of Bernard Ebbers, former CEO of WorldCom, and the ongoing prosecution of Enron executives like Jeffrey Skilling underscored the legal aftermath of earlier corporate fraud scandals. Furthermore, the United States Attorney dismissal controversy sparked investigations into the politicization of the United States Department of Justice under Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, who later resigned. Category:2007 in American law Law 2007