Agencies have discretion and they are able to use that discretion as they see fit. However, when a challenge to that discretion becomes an issue, the court can become involved. The two cases are similar because they are challenging an agency’s discretion, but end with two different outcomes. These are very important cases dealing with constitutional rights.
In Heckler v. Chaney, inmates serving a death sentence filed a complaint against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging the drugs used for their executions were not approved for human executions and therefore violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA decided not to act and the court agreed ruling in their favor. The court stated the FDA’s decision was “presumptively
In Heckler v. Chaney, inmates serving a death sentence filed a complaint against the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) alleging the drugs used for their executions were not approved for human executions and therefore violated the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. The FDA decided not to act and the court agreed ruling in their favor. The court stated the FDA’s decision was “presumptively