Margolin v. Naij

Summary

The Court, in a per curiam opinion, held that the Fourth Circuit abused its discretion by departing from the principle of party presentation. The parties disputed whether the association’s constitutional claims were covered by the Civil Service Reform Act, but the Fourth Circuit remanded on an unraised theory that current conditions might undermine the Act’s channeling of claims generally, without allowing either party to address that theory. The Court granted certiorari, reversed, and remanded. Justice Thomas, joined by Justice Barrett, concurred, arguing additionally that the Fourth Circuit’s decision was wrong on the merits because political developments and changes in agency operations cannot alter the statute’s meaning or the binding force of the Court’s interpretation.