I had no idea district courts were overseen by Supreme Court justices. And the SC justice can vacate a district court ruling? Is this common?
I seriously thought I was educated.
No, the Circuit Courts are overseen by individual Justices. I believe the District Courts are overseen by individual CIRCUIT Court Justices as well, but I’m not certain about that.
Usually, the only time a Supreme Court Justice will exercise this oversight authority is when it’s an exigent situation and the larger Court isn’t available because they’re in recess, as they are for the summer.
In this particular case, the state of Florida sued the CDC in federal district court claiming it overstepped its authority when it issued its cruise ship vaccine mandate. Pursuant to that lawsuit, a District Court issued an preliminary injunction against the CDC enjoining the enforcement of the vaccine order and in doing so, ceded that the state of FL was likely to prevail on the merits of the case when it is eventually heard (probably months from now).
The CDC then appealed to the 11th Circuit, which - in another emergency action - stayed the District Court injunction and then Thomas, acting on behalf of the Supreme Court, stayed the Circuit Court injunction, leaving the original District Court injunction against the CDC in force.
It’s kind of confusing but honestly, it’s not all that uncommon during the summer months when so many of the courts are in recess.
Eventually, the case will be heard on the merits unless the CDC withdraws its order mooting the State of Florida’s lawsuit.