Simple English definitions for legal terms
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Interpretation is the process of figuring out what something means, like a law or a document. It's like solving a puzzle to understand what the writer was trying to say. There are different ways to interpret something, like looking at the words themselves or comparing it to other similar things. A liberal interpretation means trying to understand what the writer meant, even if they didn't say it exactly. It's like guessing what someone meant to say when they didn't say it clearly.
Definition: Liberal interpretation is the process of determining what something, especially the law or a legal document, means by interpreting it according to what the reader believes the author reasonably intended, even if the author failed to think of it.
For example, if a law states that "no vehicles are allowed in the park," a liberal interpretation would allow bicycles and wheelchairs to be used in the park, even though they are technically vehicles. This is because the author of the law probably did not intend to ban bicycles and wheelchairs from the park.
Another example of liberal interpretation is when a court interprets a law to apply to a situation that is not explicitly mentioned in the law. For instance, if a law states that "all dogs must be on a leash in public places," a court might interpret this to also apply to cats, because the author of the law probably intended to keep all pets under control in public places.
Liberal interpretation is often used to ensure that the law is applied fairly and justly, even in situations that the author of the law did not specifically consider.