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LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

mischief rule

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A quick definition of mischief rule:

The mischief rule is a way of interpreting laws. It means that when we read a law, we should try to understand what problem it was made to solve. Then, we should interpret the law in a way that helps solve that problem. This is also called the purpose approach. It is different from the plain-meaning rule, which says we should only look at the words of the law, and the golden rule, which says we should interpret the law in a way that makes the most sense.

A more thorough explanation:

The mischief rule is a way of interpreting laws. It means that when judges are trying to understand what a law means, they should first figure out what problem the law was trying to solve. Then, they should interpret the law in a way that solves that problem.

For example, let's say there is a law that says "No dogs allowed in the park." If someone brings their dog to the park and gets in trouble, a judge using the mischief rule would try to figure out why the law was made. Maybe the problem was that dogs were leaving a lot of poop in the park and people were stepping in it. In that case, the judge might interpret the law to mean "No dogs allowed in the park unless they are on a leash and their owner cleans up after them." That way, the problem of poop in the park is solved, but people can still bring their dogs if they follow the rules.

The mischief rule is one of several ways that judges can interpret laws. Other methods include the plain-meaning rule (which means interpreting the law based on the words used), the golden rule (which means interpreting the law in a way that makes the most sense), and the equity-of-the-statute rule (which means interpreting the law in a way that is fair to everyone).

mischief | miscontinuance

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jackfrost11770
14:21
Anderson cooper PLEASEEEEE
For ED and their last wave of decisions it was an email all at once
GreyCeaselessMammoth
14:22
ugh
gonna go cry
jackfrost11770
14:22
Ugh
jackfrost11770
14:22
:(
ReminiscentZestyFish
14:23
Small ahh wave
GreyCeaselessMammoth
14:23
yeah the smallness of this wave makes me think there might be more to come? am i being crazy? only one wave a month it should be a tsunami rn
14:24
@jackfrost11770: chillll it still early in the cycle, especially relative to this and last yearrrr
its also still early in the day
i think theres def more waves todayu
StillDoingMyBest
14:25
do y'all think the lsat is easier or harder without the logic games
[] starfishies
14:25
ppl prob need a few minutes to update their results
pee pee poo poo
if i get a decision today ill dye my hair
14:26
dye it grey plz
or ppiece a new whole
i would look terrible with grey hair
jackfrost11770
14:27
I do think that vandy does hella small waves if not even individual decisions
jackfrost11770
14:27
Tex got WL randomly and he was like, the only one
jackfrost11770
14:27
On a Sunday
GreyCeaselessMammoth
14:27
jack that makes me feel better
ReminiscentZestyFish
14:27
Closed on Sunday
ReminiscentZestyFish
14:27
you my Chic Fil A
jackfrost11770
14:27
My hair is dyed silver
jackfrost11770
14:27
It's fading tho I'm getting it redyed next week
14:27
silver hair is the future. u heard it here first folks
ive gone black, blonde tips, light brown, red, pruplish red, another shade of red before
lilypadfrog
14:28
@StillDoingMyBest: i think removal of logic games makes it easier to start at a baseline solid score, harder to get a high score
i wanna get a new color
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