The Case of the Frozen Trucker: A Collage and Homage

6 Pages Posted: 5 Apr 2017 Last revised: 13 Apr 2017

See all articles by Mila Sohoni

Mila Sohoni

University of San Diego School of Law

Date Written: April 4, 2017

Abstract

Supreme Court nominee Judge Neil Gorsuch has been questioned sharply by certain senators about his reasoning in the now-notorious "case of the frozen trucker". This Essay assimilates that case to Lon Fuller's classic work of Legal Process, the "Case of the Speluncean Explorers." By setting out various opinions on the frozen-trucker case by the fictional Supreme Court of "Newergarth", this Essay explores ongoing jurisprudential debates concerning the proper role of courts in construing statutes and how courts should approach administrative lawmaking. The (fictional) Newergarth Court whose opinions appear herein comprises not only Chief Justice "Truenickel", but also Justices "Moresuch", "Phranken", and "Houghtelier".

The Essay may be of particular interest to those teaching legislation, administrative law, or fed courts.

Keywords: Gorsuch, Trump, Chevron, administrative law, legal process, absurdity, deference, judicial review, textualism, purposivism

Suggested Citation

Sohoni, Mila, The Case of the Frozen Trucker: A Collage and Homage (April 4, 2017). San Diego Legal Studies Paper No. 17-271, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2946683 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2946683

Mila Sohoni (Contact Author)

University of San Diego School of Law ( email )

5998 Alcala Park
San Diego, CA 92110-2492
United States

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