A three-judge panel for the federal appeals court in Washington said the FAA had relied on outdated or irrelevant tests and studies before deciding that seat spacing was a matter of comfort, not safety.
Nothing new here. Most regulations are a safety issue so the headline is not new.
Congress gives the FAA the power to regulate, not the courts. However, the application of the rule may be considered by the courts and to me that is what is in question.
The FAA needs expert support for their rulings and I await how they will react BTDT (B737 pop open doors, BT Manchester, AC CVG, etc.)