| Venue: | SCOTUS |
| Facts: | A dam (pork!) was being constructed, and was nearly closed when a previously unknown species of perch is discovered (the snail darter) in its path. This would wreck its habitat. |
| Posture: | District court grants no relief. Reversed on appeal. Appeal. |
| Issue: | Does the Endangered Species Act require the construction to halt? |
| Holding: | Yes, it sure does. |
| Rule: | The plain meaning of the statute. |
| Reasoning: | The court is not empowered to make utilitarian calculations. The law is unequivocal. Once the meaning of an enactment is determined, and also its constitutionality, the game is over. |
| Dicta: | We interpret statutes, regardless of whether we think they are wise. |