Statement by Attorney General Sam Olens on Supreme Court Actions

Today, the Supreme Court of the United States issued a ruling partially upholding Arizona’s immigration law.  

“My office participated in an amicus brief filed by 16 states in support of Arizona’s right to partner with the federal government in enforcing immigration law," said Olens.  "I am pleased that the Supreme Court recognizes that states have an important role to play in upholding the law.  I look forward to further proceedings in the Eleventh Circuit regarding Georgia’s immigration reform law in the light of this decision.”

The Supreme Court also agreed today to review a decision by the 9^th Circuit that held, for the first time, that forest roads used for timber harvesting must receive time-consuming and expensive permits, a ruling that threatens the continuing viability of timber harvesting across the country. 

Attorney General Olens joined a bipartisan group of 25 other states in submitting an amicus brief to the Court urging review.  “I am pleased that the Court will review this important case,” Olens said.  “The 9^th Circuit’s decision ignores the text and meaning of the statute, and fails to defer appropriately to the EPA’s contrary interpretation; even the Obama Administration agrees it was wrong.  I hope the Court will reverse it quickly."