ADVERTISEMENT
The challenge has been determining when deference is appropriate and when it becomes abdication of judicial responsibility. Courts have developed various standards of review—from highly deferential approaches that essentially rubber-stamp agency decisions to more searching inquiries that second-guess administrative determinations.
The Human Cost of Administrative Decisions
Behind the legal doctrines and procedural frameworks lie real human consequences. Administrative agencies make decisions that affect whether individuals receive disability benefits, obtain immigration status, qualify for healthcare assistance, or receive protection from environmental hazards. These decisions can mean the difference between financial security and poverty, between safety and danger, between inclusion and exclusion from American society.
ADVERTISEMENT
