Skidmore Deference

Skidmore deference is a legal principle used by courts when reviewing the decisions made by administrative agencies. It suggests that if an agency has expertise in a specific area and its interpretation of the law is reasonable, courts should generally respect that interpretation, even if it’s not formalized in regulations. The level of deference shown depends on factors like the agency's experience and the clarity of its reasoning. This principle balances the need for judicial review with recognizing the specialized knowledge agencies have about their fields.