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No. 20-97October Term 2020Decided Mar 22, 2021Updated Mar 22, 2021

Docket 20-97October Term 2020 (2020–2021)

Massachusetts Lobstermen's Assn. v. Raimondo

Commercial fishing groups challenged President Obama’s creation of the 3.2 million-acre Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic, which restricted lobster and crab fishing in the area.

Case status

Decided · March 22, 2021

Read the opinion (PDF)
Current stage
Decided
Latest event
Decision released Mar 22, 2021
Case Accepted
Arguments
Decision ReleasedMar 22, 2021
What it's about

Commercial fishing groups challenged President Obama’s creation of the 3.2 million-acre Northeast Canyons and Seamounts Marine National Monument in the Atlantic, which restricted lobster and crab fishing in the area. The dispute centers on whether the Antiquities Act lets a President create such an offshore marine monument and whether this monument is larger than the statute allows.

Question presented

1. Whether the Antiquities Act lets a President create such an offshore marine monument? 2. Whether this monument is larger than the statute allows?

Case path

United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit / Decision released Mar 22, 2021

Area

Business and Regulation

Timing

Decided March 22, 2021

The Court released its decision on March 22, 2021 without hearing oral argument.

Activity

Docket activity2
  • Opinion added: Opinion

    Mar 22, 2021 | Court records

  • Brief added: Petition

    Jul 27, 2020 | Court records

Grounding

Grounding
Primary-source trail available.
Note
Plain-English explainer. Official filings and opinions remain authoritative.
Checked
Jul 25, 2026
Primary materials5