The Supreme Court blocks Florida’s attempt to sue California over how California issues commercial driver’s licenses, according to reporting from multiple outlets. Florida argues that California improperly granted a commercial driver’s license to an immigrant who later was involved in a truck crash in Florida, resulting in three deaths. In refusing to allow the lawsuit to proceed, the Court does not permit Florida to litigate the matter against California in the federal forum at issue.
Two justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissent from the decision not to let the case go forward. In their dissent, they argue that the dispute raises serious concerns tied to public safety and dispute-related harms described by Florida. One report characterizes Thomas’ dissent as citing a “disturbing phenomenon” involving illegal-alien truck drivers causing fatal accidents. Other aspects of the dissenting views and the majority’s rationale are not detailed in the provided excerpts.
Overall, the sources agree that the Court’s action prevents Florida from suing California over the alleged licensing conduct and the resulting crash deaths.
