While critical of the Security and Exchange Commission’s procedures, the justices seemed to be looking for a narrow — not wide-ranging — solution.

The new Supreme Court code of conduct agreed to by all nine justices does not appear to impose any significant new requirements on them

The U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments on whether the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has the power to pursue defendants in its own in-house tribunal rather than in federal court.

A ruling limiting the agency’s in-house court system could clear the way for attacks on similar executive-branch bodies.

Conservative members of the high court pointedly question whether administrative courts violate the Seventh Amendment’s guarantee of the right to a jury trial.

Conservative U.S. Supreme Court justices on Wednesday signaled skepticism toward the legality of certain proceedings conducted in-house by the Securities and Exchange Commission to enforce investor-protection laws - a case that gives them an opportunity to further undercut the power of federal agencies.

The Supreme Court’s conservatives expressed concerns during oral arguments Wednesday about the Securities and Exchange Commission’s (SEC) abilities to use in-house judges in seeking civil penalties for fraud.

The case has the potential overturn an SEC action ---and with it, the ways that federal agencies have operated for 77 years.