Auer Deference

/ˈaʊər dɪˈfɛrəns/

Definitions

  1. (n.) A principle of judicial deference to administrative agencies' interpretations of ambiguous regulations they enforce, established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Auer v. Robbins (1997).
    The court applied Auer deference to uphold the agency's interpretation of its own regulation.

Forms

  • auer deference

Commentary

Auer deference applies when an agency interprets its own ambiguous regulation, distinct from Chevron deference which addresses agency interpretations of statutes. Courts scrutinize the reasonableness of the agency's interpretation under Auer.

This glossary is for general informational and educational purposes only. Definitions are jurisdiction-agnostic but reflect terminology and concepts primarily drawn from English and American legal traditions. Nothing herein constitutes legal advice or creates a lawyer-client relationship. Users should consult qualified counsel for advice on specific matters or jurisdictions.

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