Warning

Info

Warning

Info

Warning

Info

LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

statutory interpretation

Read a random definition: res fit inempta

A quick definition of statutory interpretation:

Statutory interpretation is when judges try to understand and apply the laws that are written by lawmakers. Sometimes the words in the laws are easy to understand, but other times they can be confusing. Judges use different methods to figure out what the laws mean, like looking at the words themselves, the history of the law, and how it has been used in the past. There are different ways that judges can interpret laws, but they all use similar tools to help them understand what the laws mean.

A more thorough explanation:

Statutory interpretation is the process where courts interpret and apply legislation. This means that judges have to figure out what a law means and how it should be applied in specific situations. Sometimes the words of a law are clear, but other times there may be some level of ambiguity that needs to be resolved by a judge.

To find the true meaning of a law, judges use various tools of statutory interpretation. These tools include:

  • Looking at the ordinary meaning of the words in the law
  • Examining the broader context of the law
  • Using guides and presumptions about how courts ordinarily read laws
  • Considering the legislative history of the law
  • Looking at how the law has been implemented in practice

In the United States, there are two main theories of statutory interpretation: purposivism and textualism. Purposivists believe that judges should interpret laws in a way that furthers the purpose of the law, while textualists believe that judges should interpret laws based solely on the text of the law itself.

For example, let's say there is a law that says "No vehicles allowed in the park." A judge may need to interpret this law if someone is caught riding a bike in the park. The judge would need to decide whether a bike is considered a "vehicle" under the law. They might look at the ordinary meaning of the word "vehicle" and decide that a bike is indeed a vehicle. They might also look at the broader context of the law to see if there are any exceptions or other rules that apply. Finally, they might consider how the law has been applied in similar cases in the past.

statutory damages | Statutory lien

Warning

Info

General

General chat about the legal profession.
main_chatroom
👍 Chat vibe: 0 👎
Help us make LSD better!
Tell us what's important to you
yeah there are so many good cuisines in ithaca
renard99
22:31
@lilypadfrog: that’s a pity I’da be liking them all
texaslawhopefully
22:31
Only food I’m going to miss for sure if I leave Texas is texmex
22:31
waspy hasnt had thai food in ithaca yet. ithaca thai is so good
^^^^ truuuuuu
22:32
there are two major thai places and they have very similar names bc a divorced husband and wife own them lol
22:32
personally i think taste of thai is better than taste of thai express but thats just me
i had pho tho and it was really good and huge portions
texaslawhopefully
22:32
Glad they have good Thai food, I love Thai food! Can’t wait to visit :)
22:33
when tex goes to ithaca i want to come
Dkk
22:34
Crying Tiger, best Thai dish.
damn im so hungry all i had today was a curry tonkatsu and buldak
and it was a lil baby noodle cup
vvv hungry
22:36
curry tonkatsu so yummeh
22:36
whats even open rn? pizza?
CTB is it i think
22:37
is collegetown pizza not open
22:37
i used to get a slice from there or wings over at like 1am after my shift at the restaurant
Dkk
22:48
Ross Ulbricht free. God Bless Trump. Huge win.
JeremyFragrance
22:54
agreed
texaslawhopefully
22:55
This is an interesting read: https://thedispatch.com/article/birthright-citizenship-trump-implications/
Dkk
23:01
I mean, idk how it's possible to end birth right citizenship without amending the constitution because to me the 14th amendment is pretty clear about it.
ross ulbricht tried to hire a hitman to kill 5 people
i am not that sympathetic to him
Dkk
23:04
@KnowledgeableRitzyWasp: That might have been an FBI agent. It was most likely him and he was most likely doing it to retrieve stolen funds that corrupt FBI agents stole, but yeah moral gray area but me personally, cool with hitmen. It's not like it is uncommon to hire hitmen. I don't think the action itself is necessarily wrong but the intent behind it can be.
Dkk
23:05
Like, Boeing whistblowers being killed by hitmen = wrong but a guy hiring hitmen to retrieve stolen funds = good to me.
texaslawhopefully
23:05
@Dkk: Yeah, for sure. My guess is it'll go to SCOTUS and it'll be 8-1 or 7-2, saying that EO was unconstitutional.
Dkk
23:06
Indeed. I need a count for how many exectuive orders he has signed and how many already have pending lawsuits.
i've been away for a while what were the most recent waves? any this week?
LSD+ is ad-free, with DMs, discounts, case briefs & more.