Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd.
View Official PDFBelow are plain-language sections to help you understand what the Court decided in Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd. and why it matters. Quotes are taken from the syllabus (the Court’s short summary at the start of the opinion).
Summary
A short, plain-English overview of Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd..
In Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Board, the Supreme Court addressed whether the Board's refusal to reopen a benefits determination is subject to judicial review. The Court found that such refusals are indeed subject to review, as they constitute a 'final decision' under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act. The decision reversed the Fifth Circuit's dismissal of Salinas' petition for lack of jurisdiction.
Holding
The single most important “bottom line” of what the Court decided in Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd..
The Court held that the Board's refusal to reopen a prior benefits determination is subject to judicial review.
Constitutional Concepts
These are the Constitution-related themes that appear in Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd.. Click a concept to see other cases that involve the same idea.
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Why Judicial Review is relevant to Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd.
The case centers on whether the Board's refusal to reopen a benefits determination is subject to judicial review.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Held: The Board's refusal to reopen a prior benefits determination is subject to judicial review.
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Why Procedural Due Process is relevant to Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd.
The case involves the procedural rights of individuals seeking review of administrative decisions.
Syllabus excerpt (verbatim)Any ambiguity in the meaning of 'any final decision' must be resolved in Salinas' favor under the 'strong presumption favoring judicial review of administrative action.'
Key Quotes
Short excerpts from the syllabus in Salinas v. Railroad Retirement Bd. that support the summary and concepts above.
"The Board's refusal to reopen Salinas' 2006 denial of benefits satisfies these criteria."
"The decision was the 'terminal event' in the Board's administrative review process."
"Any ambiguity in the meaning of 'any final decision' must be resolved in Salinas' favor under the 'strong presumption favoring judicial review of administrative action.'"
