Supreme Court Says Quick Jury Trial Not Needed on FCC Fines (2)

The US Supreme Court ruled that telecommunications companies can’t immediately demand a jury trial when hit with a Federal Communications Commission fine, while saying the carriers need not to pay penalties right away.

Ruling 8-1 in a clash involving AT&T Inc. and Verizon Communications Inc., the justices said so-called forfeiture orders are merely statements of the FCC’s views and don’t represent a conclusive resolution of a dispute.

“It thus does not offend the Constitution for the commission to issue forfeiture orders without the involvement of a jury,” Chief Justice John Roberts wrote for the court.

The court took up ...