Justice Clarence Thomas accused the Supreme Court of shirking its constitutional duty by refusing to hear Florida’s lawsuit against California and Washington over commercial driver’s licenses issued to undocumented immigrants.
The Supreme Court declined to take up Florida’s case alleging that California and Washington violated federal standards by issuing commercial driver’s licenses to people in the country illegally. Florida argued the practice created a public safety hazard on American highways.
What Thomas Argued
Thomas, joined by Justice Samuel Alito, wrote that the Supreme Court has a constitutional obligation to hear disputes between states because no other court can do so. “If this Court does not exercise jurisdiction over a controversy between two States, then the complaining State has no judicial forum in which to seek relief,” Thomas wrote in his opinion.
The justice pointed to a fatal highway crash involving truck driver Harjinder Singh, who Thomas said “could not read the road signs,” as evidence of the safety risks posed by the licensing policies. Federal law requires commercial drivers to demonstrate English proficiency and lawful immigration status, Thomas noted.
Thomas argued the court has a special responsibility when it comes to state-versus-state cases that differs from its discretion over ordinary appeals. “We have no more right to decline the exercise of jurisdiction which is given, than to usurp that which is not given,” he wrote.
The Court’s Decision
A majority of the justices voted to reject Florida’s case without taking it on the merits. The decision left Florida without a judicial forum to pursue its claims, since the Supreme Court is the only venue where states can sue other states.
Florida alleged the two states’ licensing practices violated federal commercial driver regulations and created dangerous road conditions. The case centered on whether states can issue commercial licenses to undocumented immigrants without meeting federal standards.
