Final answer:
Exceptions to deferential court review of agency action include situations involving national security, personal privacy, and when strict scrutiny is applied in discrimination cases. Agencies like the CIA and NSA are often subject to these exceptions.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question is seeking an understanding of the exceptions to deferential court review of agency action. In administrative law, courts typically defer to the expertise and judgment of administrative agencies. However, there are nine exemptions, which are situations where this deference is not required. These exemptions can involve issues of national security, proprietary data, and protections of personal privacy among others, and they limit the extent to which courts defer to agency decisions. Examples of agencies where exceptions may apply include the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Security Agency, especially in the context of sensitive issues like national security. Additionally, discrimination cases where strict scrutiny is applied are another example where courts do not defer to agency actions. Conversely, legislative deference is a different concept where legislatures give up power to another branch, such as the executive, but this is not directly related to court review of agency actions.