In the context of administrative law, what does 'de novo' review imply?

'De novo' review implies a fresh look at the case without regard to previous findings. This standard is applied when a court re-examines an administrative decision as if it were being considered for the first time, allowing for the possibility of overturning or changing the previous decision based solely on the newly evaluated merits of the case. This type of review does not rely on the administrative agency's prior findings, which means the court does not give deference to those findings but instead evaluates all evidence anew.

The clarity of a 'de novo' review lies in its thoroughness and independence from previous decisions, enabling a comprehensive appraisal based purely on the facts and the law as they present themselves in that moment. This contrasts with other forms of review, which may involve examining the record for errors or deferring to the expertise of the agency, thus emphasizing the importance of evaluating the case on its own merits.