What is the nature of deference shown to administrative decisions?

In Maryland, administrative law recognizes the principle of deference to legal decisions made by administrative agencies. This means that when court cases involve challenges to decisions made by administrative agencies, those decisions are generally presumed to have been made according to the law, and the courts will show deference to them. This means that the court will not overturn the decision unless it is proven that the administrative agency exceeded its authority or acted in a way that was arbitrary or capricious. The nature of this deference is based on the idea that administrative agencies are the experts in their fields, and that the courts should respect their decisions. This deference can extend to the level of discretion that the administrative agency chooses to exercise in making its decisions. For example, if an agency has the discretion to choose among several options, the court will usually show deference to the option it chose. In addition, if an administrative agency interprets its own regulations, the court will show deference to that interpretation unless it is clearly wrong. This is based on the idea that if an agency is vested with the authority to make the regulations in the first place, it should also be the one to interpret them. These rules of deference to administrative decisions are important because they help to ensure that administrative agencies are operating within the scope of their authority and in accordance with the law. Deference to administrative decisions can promote efficiency, since it gives agencies the ability to make decisions quickly and without the time and expense of court proceedings.

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What is the nature of deference shown to administrative decisions?

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