# Expert Available: Seventh Amendment Requires Jury Before Agency Civil Penalties Are Final 

Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in *FCC v AT&T* and *Verizon v FCC,* cases that challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose massive civil penalties without a jury trial.

April 21, 2026 • News Releases 

Today, the Supreme Court will hear arguments in *FCC v AT&T* and *Verizon v FCC,* cases that challenge the Federal Communications Commission’s authority to impose massive civil penalties without a jury trial. Scholars at the Cato Institute filed a [brief](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.cato.org%2A2Fsites%2A2Fcato.org%2A2Ffiles%2A2F2026-03%2A2Ffcc-v-att.pdf/1/0100019db04f8bec-a175f96a-b2d6-46a2-8011-bcc0c45fdab6-000000/FZVyGCfOU-RrQENU3ZNiXzf4xCk=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmI4YWE1NGJiZTU0ZWYwMjU5NWQ4YTE0MTNhMWE4NmMxOjc6OWMxOTphMjE5OTc2ZmZlN2UwNTUyNTQzZmZmODI5ZjEwNmFlMjgxNWZiMmFiYjcxM2E1MzFjM2FiMTI1ZDU5ZmFkZDFiOmg6VDpO) in support of the carriers.

In a recent blog post detailing the brief, [Tommy Berry](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.cato.org%2A2Fpeople%2A2Fthomas-berry/1/0100019db04f8bec-a175f96a-b2d6-46a2-8011-bcc0c45fdab6-000000/b81FEdEFP4jASBfdwk9F8NLyH2o=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmI4YWE1NGJiZTU0ZWYwMjU5NWQ4YTE0MTNhMWE4NmMxOjc6Y2QwMjo3MTQxNTc5ZWViYmJhOWNlYmRhMGFlYWRhMDExZTVmYmQwMmNhMTE2YmZlYWYxM2VlMTBlMjEyMDk0NWIxNjI1Omg6VDpO), the director of the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, and [Brent Skorup](https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https://zwly9k6z.r.us-east-1.awstrack.me/L0/https:%2A2F%2A2Fwww.cato.org%2A2Fpeople%2A2Fbrent-skorup/1/0100019db04f8bec-a175f96a-b2d6-46a2-8011-bcc0c45fdab6-000000/6Qi9aQlpBqmugVMSN2u1GbFpkrA=473___.YXAzOmNhdG9pbnN0aXR1dGU6YTpvOmI4YWE1NGJiZTU0ZWYwMjU5NWQ4YTE0MTNhMWE4NmMxOjc6M2IzYTo1YjliZjRiNTI4YzZhZjQ0YjJkM2Q0ZDM1ZmFkNTRlYmQ2MzdlNzdhYjljOTUyNWQ1OTBkNTE1ZTAzZDk5OThmOmg6VDpO), a legal fellow in the Cato Institute’s Robert A. Levy Center for Constitutional Studies, wrote in part:

> *“We urge the Court to adopt a straightforward rule: When an agency proceeding culminates in final agency action and is treated as enforcement sufficient to preserve civil penalties, it constitutes the adjudication of a legal claim for money. In such cases, the Seventh Amendment requires a jury before liability is conclusively determined. A later, optional enforcement suit cannot retroactively cure a Seventh Amendment violation.”*

Berry will be present for today’s oral arguments. To speak with Berry or Skorup following the arguments, contact [Christopher Tarvardian](mailto:ctarvardian@cato.org).

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