What must a person demonstrate to a reviewing court before appealing an agency decision?

To appeal an agency decision, a person must demonstrate that they have exhausted all administrative remedies. This means they have gone through all available administrative processes and appeals within the agency before seeking judicial review. The rationale behind this requirement is to ensure that the agency has had a full opportunity to address the individual's concerns and potentially correct any errors before the matter escalates to the court system. This promotes efficiency and respects the agency's expertise in handling its own regulations and decisions.

Exhausting administrative remedies often includes following specific procedures, filing necessary complaints, and completing all levels of appeals established by the agency's regulations. Courts typically will not entertain appeals until these steps have been fully completed, as this ensures that the agency's decision-making process is respected and allows courts to focus on final decisions.

In contrast, demonstrating a favorable opinion, having a legitimate grievance, or consulting with an attorney, while potentially relevant, do not meet the specific legal requirement of exhaustion of administrative remedies necessary to pursue an appeal in court.