Auer deference

Auer deference is a legal principle where courts give respectful weight to an administrative agency’s interpretation of its own regulations. When a law is unclear, courts generally rely on the agency’s expertise and understanding, assuming the agency’s interpretation is reasonable. This ensures that agencies, which specialize in their areas, have a say in how laws are applied, leading to more consistent and informed enforcement. Essentially, courts trust agencies’ judgment about their own rules unless the interpretation is clearly unreasonable or incorrect.