VERBA LEGIS

Plain Language Rule

If The Statute Is Clear, Plain and Free From Ambiguity, It Must Be Given Its Literal Meaning and Applied Without Attempted
Interpretation
VERBA LEGIS NON EST RECEDENDUM
From The Words Of The Statute There Should Be No Departure
ABSOLUTE SENTENCIA EXPOSITORE NON INDIGET
When The Language of The Law Is Clear No Explanation Of It Is Required
UBI LEX NON DISTINGUIT NEC NOS DISTINGUIRE DEBEMOS
When The Law Does Not Distinguish, We Should Not Distinguish
INDEX ANIMI SERMO EST
Speech Is The Index Of Intention
EJUSDEM GENERIS
Where The General Term Follows The Designation Of Particular Things Or Classes Of Persons Or Subjects, The General Term
Will Be Construed To Include Those Things Or Persons Of The Same Class Or Of The Same Nature As Those Specifically
Enumerated.
DOCTRINE OF LAST ANTECEDENCE
Under This Rule, Relative And Qualifying Words, Phrases, And Clauses Are To Be Applied To The Word Or Phrase
Immediately Preceding And Not To Others More Remote.
IN PARI MATERIA RULE
Under This Rule Statutes Relating To The Same Subject, Or Having The Same General Purpose, Should Be Read And
Construed Together As If They Constituted One Law.
DURA LEX SED LEX
The Law May Be Harsh But That Is The Law
MENS LEGISLATORES
By This Principle Courts Should Look Into The Object To Be Accomplished, The Evils And Mischief To Be Remedied, Or The
Purpose To Be Subserved
RATIO LEGIS
In Construing The Statute, The Court Must Look Into The Spirit Of The Law Or The Reason For It.
NOSCITUR A SOCIIS
Under This Rule, The Meaning Of A Particular Term In A Statute May Be Ascertained By Reference To The Words Associated
With Or Related To Them In A Statute.
CASUS OMISUS
Under This Rule, The Words Or Phrase May Be Supplied By The Courts And Inserted In A Statute Where That Is Necessary To
Eliminate Repugnancy And Inconsistency In The Statute, To Complete The Sense Thereof And To Give Effect To The
Intention Of The Legislature Manifested Therein.
CASUS OMISUS PRO OMISSO HABENDUS EST
Under This Rule, A Person, Object Or Thing Omitted From An Enumeration Must Be Held To Have Been Omitted
Intentionally.
EXPRESSIO UNIUS EST EXCLUSIO ALTERIUS (INCLUSIO UNIUS EST EXCLUSIO ALTERIUS)
Mention Of One Thing Implies The Exclusion Of Others.
OPTIMA STATULI INTERPRETATIX EST IPSUM STATUTUM
The Best Interpreter Of The Statute Is The Statute Itself
GENERALIA VERBA SUN GENERALITER INTELLIGENCIA
What Is Generally Spoken Shall Be Generally Understood
INTERPRETATIO TALIS IN AMBIGUIS SEMPER FRIENDA EST, UT EVITATUR INCONVENIENS ET ABSURDUM
Where There Is Ambiguity, Such Interpretation As Will Avoid Inconvenience And Absurdity Should Be Adopted
UT RES MAGIS QUAM PEREAT
This Means That It Is Not Enough That The Statute Should Be Given Effect As A Whole But That Effect Should Be Given To
Each Of The Provisions Of The Statute
LEGIS POSTERIORE PRIORES CONTRARIES ABROGANT
In Case Of Irreconcilable Conflict Of Two Law Of Different Vintages, The Latter Enactment Prevails
RATIO LEGIS EST ANIMA
The Reason For The Law Is Its Soul.
CESSANTE RATIONE (LEGIS) CESSAT IPSA LEX
When The Reason Of The Law Ceases, The Law Ceases To Exist.
REDDENDO SINGULA SINGULIS
Let Each Be Put In Its Proper Place
EX NECISSITATE LEGIS
Doctrine of Necessary Implication
LEX PROSPICIT NON RESPICIT
The Law Looks Forward, Not Backward.
LEX FUTURO, JUDEX PRATERITO
The Law Provides For the Future, the Judge For The Past
IN EO PLUS INEST SIT, SIMPER ET MINUS
The Greater Includes The Lesser.
LEGIS INTERPRETATION LEGIS VIM OBTINET
The Interpretation Placed Upon The Written Law By The Competent Court Has The Force Of Law.