STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION : LATIN MAXIMS FOR 1 - A

1 Legis interpretatio legi vim obtinet.

The authoritative interpretation of the court of a statute acquires the force of law by becoming a part thereof
Contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege

Littera necat spiritus vivificate Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservire.

The contemporary construction is strongest in law Custom is the best interpreter of the law
Regula pro lege, si deficit lex.

Words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not the intent to the words

OPTIMA EST LEGUM INTERPRES CONSUETUDO

BENIGNIUS LEGES INTERPRETENDAE SUNT, QUOD VOLUNTAS EARUM CONSERVETUR

In default of the law, the maxim rules

3 Optimus interpres rerum usus.

Laws are to be more liberally interpreted, in order that their intent may be preserved
QUI HARET IN LITERA HARET IN CORTICE

The best interpretator of the law is usage.

COMMUNIS ERROR FACIT JUS.

He who considers merely the letter of an instrument goes but skin deep into its meaning

Common error, repeated many times, makes law.

QUANDO VERBA STATUTI SUNT SPECIALIA, RATIO AUTEM GENERALIA, STATUTUM GENERALITER EST INTELLIGENDUM

QUOD AB INITIO NON VALET IN TRACTU TEMPORARIS NON CONVALESCIT.

That which is bad in its commencement improves not by lapse of time.

4 5 Ratihabitio mandato aequiparatur.

When a law is special, but its reason or object general, the law is to be understood generally
10 11 Cessante rationi legis, cessat et ipsa lex

Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate

Stare decisis et non quieta movere

When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases
Interpretatio talis in ambiguis semper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et absurdum LEGIS CONSTRUCTIO NON FACIT INJURIAM

Follow past precedents and do not disturb what has been settled
Interest reipublicae ut sit finis litium

Public interest requires that by the very nature of things there must be end to a legal controversy.
6 Index animi sermo est

Where there is ambiguity, such interpretations as will avoid inconvenience and absurd it is to be adopted. The construction of law does no injury.
ARGUMENTUM AB INCONVENIENTI PLURIMUM VALET IN LEGE.

Speech is the index of intention

Animus hominis est anima scripti

Verba legis non est recedendum.

Intention is the soul of an instrument

An argument drawn from inconvenience is of the greatest weight in law. It is better that words should have no operation at all than that they should operate absurdly,
Verba nihil operari melius est quam absurde

From the words of the statute there should be no departure.

Maledicta est expositio quae corrumpit textum. Littera scripta manet

It is better that words have no effect than to have an absurd one

LEX SEMPER INTENDIT QUOD CONVENIT RATIONI.

It is dangerous construction which is against the text. The spoken word perishes, but the written word remains
Clausula rebus sic stantibus

The law always intends what is agreeable to reason.

UBI EADEM RATIO IBI IDEM JUS. Argumentum a simili valet in lege De similibus idem est judicium Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jus 12 Ea est accipienda interpretatio quae vitio caret. Les injusta non est lex

Where the same reason exists, there the same law prevails. An argument drawn from a similar case, or analogy, avails in law In like cases the judgment is the same Where there is the same reason, there is the same law That interpretation is to be adopted which is free from evil or injustice. An unjust law is no law at all
13 Fiat justitia, ruat coelum.

Things thus standing

7 -

Absoluta sentencia expositore non indiget. Dura lex sed lex.

When language of law is clear, no explanation of it is required. The law may be harsh, but that is the law.
Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est.

It is exceedingly hard but so the law is written.

8 Aequitas nunquam contravenit legis

Equity never acts in contravention of the law.

Aequum et bonum est lex legume Jus est ars boni et aequi

What is good and equitable is the law of all laws To swear is to call God to witness, and is an act of religion
9 Ratio legis est anima legis

Let right be done, though the heavens fall.

Nemo est supra legis

nobody is above the law.

14 -

Nulla potential supra legis esse debet Jurae naturae aequum est neminem cum alterius detrimento et injuria fieri locupletiorem.

The reason of the law is the soul

The fact that a statute is silent, obscure or insufficient with respect to a question before the court will not justify the latter from declining to render judgment thereon.
15 -

23 24

Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et per obliquum.

What is prohibited directly is prohibited indirectly.

Generale dictum generaliter est interpretandum. Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda.

Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.

Utile per inutile non vitiatur.

Surplusagium non nocet.

A general statement is understood in a general sense. What is generally spoken shall be generally understood

The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.

16 Falsa demonstratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat.

25

Verba accipienda sunt secundum subjectam materiam.

False description does not preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of the statute.
NIL FACIT ERROR NOMINIS CUM DE CORPORE VEL PERSONA CONSTAT.

A word is to be understood in the context in which it is used.

VERBA MERE AEQUIVOCA, SI PER COMMUNEM USUM LOQUENDI IN INTELLECTU CERTO SUMUNTUR, TALIS INTELLECTUS PREFERNDUS EST. VERBA ARTIS EX ARTE.

Mistake in the name does not matter when body or person is

CERTUM EST QUOD CERTUM REDDI POTEST.

manifest.

In the case of words merely equivocal, if they are taken by the common usage of speech in a certain sense, such sense is to be preferred.
VERBA GENERALIA RESTRINGUNTUR AD HABILITATEM REI VEL PERSONAM.

That is certain which can be rendered certain.

17 -

Ibi quid generaliter conceditur, inest haec exceptio, si non aliquid sit contras jus basque

Where anything is granted generally, this exception is implied; that nothing shall be contrary to law and right.
18 Summum jus, summa injuria

General words must be narrowed either to the nature of the subject matter or to the aptitude of the perso
26 27 28 29 30 Ubi lex non distinguit necnon distinguere debemus. Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio. Noscitur a sociis.

The rigor of the law is the height of oppression. Extreme law is often extreme wrong

Where the law does not distinguish, we should not distinguish. Of things dissimilar, the rule is dissimilar. Word construed words
Ejusdem generis.

Jus summum saepe, summa est militia

19

Nemo tenetur as impossibilia.

The law obliges no one to perform an impossibility.

Impossibilium nulla obligatio est.

There is no obligation to do an impossible thing.

LEX NON COGIT AD IMPOSSIBILIA.

The law does not compel the doing of impossibilities.

LEX NON INTENDIT ALIQUID IMPOSSIBILE.

Of the same kind or specie

Expressio unius est exclusio alterius. Expressum facit cessare tacitum.

The law does not intend anything impossible.

20 Ex necessitate legis

The express mention of one person, thing or consequence implies the exclusion of all others. What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied

By necessary implication of law The greater includes the lesser

In eo quod plus sit, simper inest et minus CUI JURISDICTIO DATA EST, EA QUOQUE CONCESSA ESSE VIDENTUR SINE QUIBUS JURISDICTIO EXPLICARI NON POTUIT

31 32

Argumentum a contrario.

Negative-opposite doctrine
Casus omissus pro omission habendus est

To whomsoever a jurisdiction is given, those things are also supposed to be granted, without which the jurisdiction cannot be exercised. The grant of jurisdiction implies the grant of all powers necessary to its exercise
21 Ubi jus, ibi remedium.

A person, object or thing omitted from an enumeration must be held to have been omitted intentionally.
Ad proximum antecedens fiat relation nisi impediatur sentential.

Where there is a right, there is a remedy.

33

Ubi jus incertium, ibi jus nullum

Where the law is uncertain, there is no law

22 Ex dolo malo non oritur actio.

Relative words refer to the nearest antecedents, unless the context otherwise requires
Reddendo singula singulis.

34

No man can be allowed to found a claim upon his own wrongdoing.

Nullius commodum capere potest de injuria sua propia In pari delicto potior est conditio defendentis.

Referring each to each; 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.

No man should be allowed to take advantage of his own wrong. Where each party is equally in fault, the law favors him who is actually in possession

35

A thing not being excepted must be regarded as coming within the purview of the general rule

36

Optima statuti interpretatrix est ipsum statum.

The best interpreter of a statute is the statute itself.

EX TOTA MATERIA EMERGAT RESOLUTIO.

44

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 explanation should arise out of the wholse subject-matter; the exposition of a statute should be made from all its parts together,
INJUSTUM EST NISI TOTA LEGE INSPECTA, DE UNA ALIQUA EJUS PARTICULA PROPOSITA INDICARE VEL RESPONDERE.

45

He who is first in time is preferred in right.

Potior est in tempore, potior est in jure.

It is unjust to decide or respond as to any particular part of a law without examining the whole of the law.
NEMO ENIM ALIQUAM PARTEM RECTE INTELLIGERE POSSIT ANTEQUAM TOTUM ITERUM ATQUE ITERUM PERLEGERIT. EX ANTECEDENTIBUS ET CONSEQUENTIBUS FIT OPTIMA INTERPRETATIO.

The laws aid the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.
46 Lex prospicit, non respicit.

The law looks forward, not backward.

Lex de futuro, judex de praeterito.

No one is able rightly to understand one part before he has again and again read through the whole. A passage in a statute is best interpreted by reference to what precedes and what follows it.
VERBA POSTERIMA PROPTER CERTITUDINEM ADDITA AD PRIORA QUAE CERTITUDINE INDIGENT SUNT REFERENDA.

The law provides for the future, the judge for the past. A new statute should affect the future, not the past.

Nova constitutio futuris formam imponere debet non praeteritis. LEGES QUAE RETROSPICIUNT, ET MAGNA CUM CAUTIONE SUNT ADHIBENDAE NEQUE ENIM JANUS LOCATUR IN LEGIBUS. LEGES ET CONSITUTIONES FUTURIS CERTUM EST DARE FORMAM NEGOTIIS, NON AD FACTA PRAETERITA REVOCARI, NISI NOMINATIM ET DE PRAETERITO TEMPORE ET ADHUB PENDENTIBUS NEGOTIIS CAUTUM SIT. 47 48 Nullum crimen sine poena, nulla poena sine lege. There is no crime without a penalty, and there is no penalty without a law. Favorabilia sunt amplianda, odiosa restringenda. Where there is ambiguity, such interpretations as will avoid inconvenience and absurdit is to be adopted Leges posteriores ppriores contrarias abrogant. A later law repeals a prior law on the same subject which is repugnant thereto. Generalia specialibus non derogant. A general law does not nullify a specific or special law. IGNORANTIA LEGIS NEMINEM EXCUSAT.

Subsequent words, added for the purpose of certainty, are to be referred to the preceding words which require the certainty.
37 38 Interpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat quam pereat. Pari materia.

A law should be interpreted with a view to upholding rather than destroying it. Relating to some matter

Interpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus.

Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to form uniform system of law.
39 Distingue tempora et concordabis jura. Distinguish times and you will harmonize laws. Tempora mutantur et leges mutantur in illis Mutatis mutandi 40 -

49 50 a b

The times change, and we change with them. Change as appropriate

Salus populi est suprema lex.

Ignorance of law excuses no one.

The voice of the people is the supreme law.

Statuta pro publico commodo late interpretantur.

Statutes made for the public good ought to be liberally construed.

IN OBSCURIS INSPICI SOLERE QUOD VERISIMILIUS EST, AUT QUOD PLERUMQUE FIERI SOLET.

PRIVATUM INCOMMODUM PUBLICO BONO PENSATUR.

Private inconvenience is made up for by public benefit.

41 Actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.

In obscure cases, we usually look at what is most probable, or what most commonly happen
c AD EA QUAE FREQUENTIUS ACCIDUNT JURA ADAPTATUR.

The act itself does not make a man guilty unless his intention were so.
Actus me invito factus non est menus actus.

Laws are adapted to those cases which most frequently occur.

An act done by me against my will is not my act.

42 Privilegia recipiunt largam interpretationem voluntate consonam concedentis. Renunciato non praesumitur

JUS CONSTITUI OPORTET IN HIS QUAE UT PLURIMUM ACCIDUNT NON QUAE EX INORDINATO. QUOD SEMEL AUT BIS EXISTIT PRAETEREUNT LEGISLATORIES. d NIGRUM NUNQUAM EXCEDERE DEBET RUBRUM.

Laws ought to be made with a view to those cases which happen most frequently, and not to those which are of rare or accidental occurrence.

Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants them.
Strictissimi juris.

43

Of the stictest right or law.

The black should never go beyond the red. (The text of a statute should never be read in a sense more comprehensive than the rubric or title.)