claimants challenging the appointment of administrative law judges. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (CN) — The Supreme Court ruled Thursday that Social Security applicants who challenge the appointment of administrative law judges are not required to first bring those claims to the agency before taking their case to court. The six individuals who brought the consolidated suit were denied disability benefits by the Social Security Administration. While they appealed the denials, the Supreme Court ruled in 2018 in Lucia v. Securities Exchange Commission that administrative law judges were improperly appointed to the SEC. After that decision, the Social Security petitioners argued the administrative law judges handling their cases were not properly appointed — violating the Constitution’s appointments clause – and they should have the opportunity to raise the issue in federal court.