Devin Watkins is an attorney at the Competitive Enterprise Institute. Devin Watkins previously worked at the Cato Institute as a legal associate and interned at the Institute for Justice. At the Cato Institute, Watkins worked on a variety of Supreme Court cases, and one of the briefs he worked on was cited by the Court. His op-eds have appeared in National Review Online, The Hill, Time, and The Federalist among others.
Watkins holds a Juris Doctor cum laude from George Mason University’s Antonin Scalia Law School, where he was the development editor on the Mason Law Review. Prior to his legal career Watkins was a senior software developer at Intel and WebMD. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Stevens Institute of Technology in Hoboken, New Jersey.
Watkins is a member of the District of Columbia Bar, the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia Bar, and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Bar.
Authored by Devin Watkins
News
Federal court declares federal ban on at-home distilling unconstitutional
Late last night, after months of litigation, a federal court in Texas decided the federal ban on at-home distillation of beverage spirits is unconstitutional. The…
Supreme Court decision clarifies statute of limitations around regulation
Today, the Supreme Court issued its decision in Corner Post v. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, a case examining statutes of…
Supreme Court Ends Chevron Doctrine that Favored Regulatory Agencies in Court
The U.S. Supreme Court today overruled itself on a longstanding, controversial doctrine that gave regulatory agencies an unfair advantage in court – the so-called “Chevron…
Blog
Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals finds FCC’s universal service fee unconstitutional under the nondelegation doctrine
- By: Devin Watkins
Late yesterday, the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals issued an opinion in Consumer Research v. FCC that breathes new life into the nondelegation doctrine. This…
Supreme Court protects the right to a jury trial – and the public from lawless agency fines
- By: Devin Watkins
Today the Supreme Court issued a decision in SEC v. Jarkesy, one of the most significant civil rights cases in decades. This case is about…
CEI sues to end federal at-home distilling ban
- By: Devin Watkins
The Competitive Enterprise Institute, which regularly litigates against federal overreach, represents the Hobby Distillers Association and its members in a lawsuit seeking an end…
Op-Eds/Articles
DC Journal
Point: The Supreme Court Is Empowering Voters
- By: Devin Watkins
The Supreme Court’s recent term signaled a monumental shift toward liberty as it rolled back the unchecked power of federal agencies and reaffirmed the constitutional…
The Federalist Society
Federal Court Recognizes Limits to Federal Power Over At-Home Distilling
- By: Devin Watkins
What are the limits of the federal government’s powers? That critical question has been debated since the nation’s Founding, and a recent federal court decision…
National Review
Congress Must Restore the Power of the Purse It Gave Away
- By: Devin Watkins
One of the most recent decisions made by the U.S. Supreme Court is also one of the most disastrous for democratic self-government. The Court’s ruling in …
Studies
Constitutional Restoration: How to rebuild the separation of powers
Introduction A specter is haunting America—the specter of unlimited government. A central feature of our Constitution is that it restricts the federal government’s powers. These…
Citations
The Hill
Federal Court takes aim at White House’s environment authority
- By: Devin Watkins
The Hill cited CEI’s expert on the White House’s environment authority While some expressed concern that the ruling could cause confusion, Devin Watkins, an attorney…
Daily Caller
Biden-Harris Admin’s Aggressive Litigation Strategy To Enforce Agenda Likely Infringes On States’ Rights
- By: Devin Watkins
The Daily Caller cited CEI’s experts on unconstitutional laws “There was very little chance of Oklahoma or Texas being successful without overturning Arizona v. US,…
Fox News
Federal judge rules that 156-year-old ban on at-home distilling is unconstitutional
Fox News cites CEI’s Devin Watkins and Dan Greenberg on Hobby Distillers Association v. Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau et al: Devin Watkins,…
Regulatory Comments
Comment on FTC Unfair or Deceptive Fees
- By: Devin Watkins
Dear Commissioners, On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute, I respectfully submit the following comments in response to the Federal Trade Commission’s proposed rulemaking concerning…
CEI Comments on Proposed OMB Circular No. A-4
- By: Devin Watkins
RE: Request for Comments on Proposed OMB Circular No. A-4, “Regulatory Analysis”, 88 FR 20915 (Apr. 7, 2023), Docket OMB-2022-0014 Dear Mr. Revesz, I am…
CEI Comments on the Proposed Regulation on Digital Discrimination of Access
Introduction. On behalf of the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), we respectfully submit the following comments in response to the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) notice of…
