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Why are courts usually reluctant to replace an agency's decision with their own judgment?

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lampoon of Interstate Commerce Commission — Administrative law Cartoon depicting a uniformed Interstate Commerce Commission officer shining a large searchlight on U.S. railroad executive Edward Henry Harriman, who is struggling to carry a large load of packages and toy trains, some labeled “merger.”

In the context of administrative law, courts are generally reluctant to substitute their own judgment for that of an administrative agency primarily because they recognize that these agencies possess specialized expertise in their specific areas of regulation.1

Because agencies are often tasked with managing complex, technical, or specialized functions, judges typically defer to the agency's professional knowledge and experience when reviewing their decisions. Consequently, judicial review is often focused on ensuring that an agency acted within the scope of its legal authority, followed fair procedures, and based its conclusions on evidence, rather than re-evaluating the wisdom, expediency, or reasonableness of the agency's policy choices.12

While courts do possess the power to invalidate administrative acts that are unlawful or exceed jurisdiction, this restraint reflects a respect for the division of functions between the judiciary and the executive branch.213