"In our view, the district court failed to accord proper deference to Congress's decision to severely punish criminals who repeatedly possess firearms in connection with drug-trafficking crimes, and erroneously downplayed the seriousness of Angelos's crimes."

Justice Kennedy's opinion said it would be "inappropriate" for the Court to "accord deference" to the Justice Department's view of its mandate to enforce the Voting Rights Act.

Lawmakers, normally accorded deference by witnesses called to testify, found themselves in the role of supplicants and were limited by the gavel: each speaker was allotted five minutes and five minutes only.

If the department had reached a "reasoned decision" on whether disputed airport fees were acceptable, "we would accord that decision substantial deference."

On abortion, the Justice Department urged the Supreme Court to "accord heavy deference" to the preferences of states and cities that tried to restrict access to abortion.

The existence of a privative clause was sufficient to accord the Tribunal deference in review.

"When it comes to protecting the nation's borders," Mr. Olson said, the court has typically accorded great deference to Congressional immigration policy.

Sense of Double Standard But others say the handling of the case, particularly given the nature of the crime, reinforces a perception that celebrities are accorded too much deference.

They were accorded deference as a socially superior body.

The president has repeated the remark on various other occasions, leading to banner headlines in this society that has generally accorded great deference to the elderly.