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POWER TO CONSTRUE
CONTEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION
REGULA PRO LEGE, SI DEFICIT LEX.- In default of the law, the maxim rules.
OPTIMA EST LEGUM INTERPRES CONSUETUDO- Custom is the best interpreter of a statute.
OPTIMUS INTERPRES RERUM USUS- The best interpreter of the law is usage.
COMMUNIS ERROR FACIT JUS- Common error sometimes passes as current law.
QUOD AB INITIO NON VALET IN TRACTU TEMPORIS NON CONVALESCIT- That which was
originally void, does not by lapse of time become valid.
STARE DECISIS ET NON QUIETA MOVERE- Follow past precedents and do not disturb what has been
settled.
INTEREST REPUBLICAE UT SIT FINIS LITIUM- The interest of the state demands that there be an end
to litigation.
ANIMUS HOMINIS EST ANIMA SCRIPTI- The intention of the party is the soul.
VERBA LEGIS NON EST RECEDENDUM- From the words of the statute there should be no departure.
ABSOLUTA SENTENTIAL EXPOSITORE NON INDIGENT- When the language of the law is clear, no
explanation is required.
DURA LEX SED LEX.- The law may be harsh but it is the law.
HOC QUIDEM PERQUAM DURUM EST, SED ITA LEX SCRIPTA EST.- It is exceedingly hard, but so
the law is written.
AEQUITAS NUNQUAM CONTRAVENIT LEGIS- Equity never acts in contravention of the law.
AEQUUM ET BONUM EST LEX LEGUME- What is good and equal is the law of laws.
RATIO LEGIS EST ANIMA LEGIS- The reason of the law is the soul of the law.
LITTERA NECAT SPIRITUS VIVIFICATE- The letter kills but the spirit gives life.
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VERBA INTENTIONI, NON E CONTRA, DEBENT INSERVICE- Words ought to be more subservient
to the intent, and not the intent to the words.
BENIGNUS LEGES INTERPRETANDAE SUNT, QUOD VOLUNTAS ERAUM CONSERVETUR Laws are to be construed liberally, so that their spirit and reason be preserved.
QUI HARET IN LITTERA HARET IN CORTICE- He who considers merely the letter of an instrument
goes but skin deep into its meaning.
CESSANTE RATIONI LEGIS, CESSAT ET IPSA LEX- When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself
ceases.
LEGIS CONSTRUCTION NON FACIT INJURIAM- The construction of the law will not be such as to
work injury or injustice.
VERBA NIHIL OPERARI MELIUS EST QUAM ABSURD- It is better that words should have no
operation at all than that they should operate absurdly.
LEX SIMPER INTENDIT QUOD CONVENIT RATIONI- The law always intends that which is in
accordance with reason.
UBI EADEM RATIO IBI IDEM JUS- Like reason doth make like law.
ARGUMENTUM A SIMILI VALET IN LEGE- An argument drawn from a similar case, or analogy,
prevails in law.
DE SIMILIBUS IDEM EST JUDICIUM- Concerning similars, the judgment is the same.
UBI EADEM EST RATIO, IBI EST EADEM LEGIS DISPOSITION- Where there is the same reason,
there is the same law.
FIAT JUSTITIA, RUAT COELUM - Let right be done, though the heavens fall.
NULLA POTENTIAL SUPRA LEGIS ESSE DEBET- No power must be above the law.
UTILE PER INUTILE NON VITIATUR.- The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.
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FALSA DEMOSTRATIO NON NOCET, CUM DE CORPORE CONSTAT- False description does not
preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of the statute.
NIL FACIT ERROR NOMINIS CUM DE CORPORA VEL PERSONA CONSTAT- Error in name does
not make an instrument inoperative when the description is sufficiently clear.
CERTUM EST QUOD CERTUM REDDI POTEST- That is sufficiently certain which can be made
certain.
IBI QUID GENERALITER CONCEDITUR, INEST HAEC EXCEPTION, SI NON ALIQUID SIT
CONTRAS JUS BASQUE- Where anything is granted generally, exemption from rigid application of law is
implied; that nothing shall be contrary to law and right.
SUMMUM JUS, SUMMA INJURIA- The rigor of the law would be the highest injustice.
JUS SUMMUM SAEPE, SUMMA EST MILITIA- Extreme law is often extreme wrong.
LEX NON COGIT AD IMPOSSIBILIA- The law does not require an impossibility.
LEX NON INTENDIT ALIQUID IMPOSSIBLE.- The law does not intend the impossible
IMPLICATIONS
IN EO QUOD PLUS SIT, SIMPER INEST ET MINUS.- The greater includes the lesser.
CUI JURISDICTION DATA EST, EA QUOQUE CONCESSA ESSE VIDENTUR SINE QUIBUS
JURISDICTION EXPLICARI NON POTUIT.- When jurisdiction is given, all powers and means essential
to its exercise are also given.
UBI JUS, IBI REMEDIUM.- Where there is a right, there is a remedy for violation thereof.
UBI JUS INCERTUM, IBI JUS NULLUM.- Where the law is uncertain, there is no right.
EX DOLO MALO NON ORITUR ACTION.- An action does not arise from fraud.
NULLIUS COMMODUM CAPERE POTEST DE INJURIA SUA PROPRIA.- No one may derive
advantage from his own unlawful act.
IN PARI DELICTO POTIOR EST CONDITION DEFENDENTIS.- Where the parties are equally at fault,
the position of the defending party is the better one.
VERBA ARTIS EX ARTE.- Words of art should be explained from their usage in the art to which they
belong.
UBI LEX NON DISTINGUIT NECNON DISTINGUERE DEBEMUS.- Where the law does not
distinguish, the courts should not distinguish.
EXPRESSIO UNIUS EST EXCLUSION ALTERIUS. - The express mention of one person, thing or
consequence implies the exclusion of all others.
EXPRESSUM FACIT CESSARE TACITUM.- What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied.
CASSUS OMISSUS PRO OMISSO HABENDUS EST.- A person, object or thing omitted from an
enumeration must be held to have been omitted intentionally.
REDDENDO SINGULAR SINGULIS.- Referring each to each, or referring each phrase or expression to its
appropriate object, or let each be put in its proper place.
EXCEPTIO FIRMAT REGULAM IN CASIBUS NON EXCEPTIS.- A thing not being expected must be
regarded as coming within the purview of the general rule.
OPTIMA STATUTE INTERPRETATRIX EST IPSUM STATUTUM.- The best interpreter of the statute
is the statute itself.
EX TOTA MATERIA EMERGAT RESOLUTION.- The exposition of a statute should be made from all
its parts put together.
INJUSTUM EST, NISI TOTA LEGE INSPECTA, DE UNA ALIQUA EJUS PARTICULA
PROPOSITA INDICARE VEL RESPONDERE.- It is unjust to decide or to respond as to any particular
part of a law without examining the whole of the law
INTERPRETATIO FIENDA EST UT RES MAGIS VALEAT QUAM PEREAT.- A law should be
interpreted with a view of upholding rather than destroying it.
DISTINGUE TEMPORA ET CONCORDABIS JURA.- Distinguish times and you will harmonize law.
TEMPORA MUTANTUR ET LEGES MUTANTUR IN ILLIS.- Times have changed and laws have
changed with them.
SALUS POPULI EST SUPREMA LEX.- The voice of the people is the supreme law.
STATUTA PRO PUBLICO COMMODO LATE INTERPRETANTUR.- Statutes enacted for the publc
good are to be construed liberally.
PRIVATUM INCOMMODUM PUBLICO BONO PENSATUR.- The private interests of the individual
must give way to the accommodation of the public.
ACTUS NON FACIT REUM NISI MENS SIT REA.- The act does not make a person guilty unless the
mind is also guilty.
ACTUS ME INVITO FACTURS NON EST MEUS ACTUS.- An act done by me against my will is not my
act.
NULLUM TEMPUS OCCURIT REGI.- There can be no legal right as against the authority that makes the
law on which the right depends.
VIGILANTIBUS ET NON DORMIENTIBUS JURA SUBVENIUNT.- The law aids the vigilant, not those
who slumber on their rights.
POTIOR EST IN TEMPORE, POTIOR EST IN JURE.- He who is first in time is preferred in right.
LEX PROSPICIT, NON RESPICIT.- THE law looks forward, not backward.
LEX DE FUTURO, JUDEX DE PRAETERITO.- The law provides for the future, the judge for the past.
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NULLUM CRIMEN SINE POENA, NULLA POENA SINE LEGE.- There is no crime without a penalty,
there is no penalty without a law.
FAVORABILIA SUNT AMPLIANDA, ODIOSA RESTRINGENDA.- Penal laws which are favorable to
the accused are given retroactive effect.
REPEAL
LEGES POSTERIORES PRIORES CONTRARIAS ABROGANT.- Later statutes repeal prior ones which
are repugnant thereto.
GENERALIA SPECIALIBUS NON DEROGANT.- A general law does not nullify a specific or special
law.
IN OBSCURIS INSPICI SOLERE QUOD VERSIMILIUS EST, AUT QUOD PLERUMQUE FIERI
SOLET.-When matters are obscure, it is customary to take what appears to be more likely or what usually
often happens.
QUOD SEMEL AUT BIS EXISTIT PRAETEREUNT LEGISLATORES.- Legislators pass over what
happens only once or twice.
DE MINIMIS NON CURAT LEX.- The law does not concern itself with trifling matters.
NIGRUM NUNQUAM EXCEDERE DEBET RUBRUM.- THE black (body of the act printed in black)
should never go beyond the red (title or rubric of the statute printed in red).
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