OUR REPUBLICAN COURT:

The Supreme Court opened the door Monday for California raisin growers to challenge the constitutionality of a Depression-era farming law that requires them to keep part of their annual crop off the market.

In a 9-0 ruling, the justices cleared the way for Marvin and Laura Horne from Fresno to argue that this "mandatory reserve" program takes away their private property without just compensation. [...]

[I]f they were to prevail in the case, it could lead to a broad challenge to government-sponsored agricultural marketing orders.  

The raisin board is one of several that was created under the Agricultural Marketing Agreement Act of 1937. It seeks to prop up prices for farm products. The court noted that there are similar orders that apply to a "vast array" of agricultural products, including milk as well as many fruits and vegetables.

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