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Statutory Interpretation
Poor drafting:
Many bills are hurried through parliament (flood-gated, guillotined
etc). Those drafting a bill may lack specialist knowledge.
Inconsistencies & contradictions:Parts of the same Act may conflict
with each other. The Act may conflict with other Acts. Acts are
complex.
Wording and definitions:
Words may be poorly defined by the Act or may have multiple
meanings is common usage.
The meaning of words may change over time.
Changing circumstances:
Old laws may need to be reinterpreted to fit new developments eg.
Technology
Judicial rules are used to read unclear statutes and declare the law.
Literal Rule
Golden Rule
Mischief (or Purpose) Rule
The Act is read by its plain meaning – exactly as the words are
written, the assumption being that parliament has said what it
means.
However, this can lead to absurd outcomes.
Pedestrians are not allowed on the freeway. A person whose car has
broken down and is walking to the emergency phone is in breach of
the law. This is absurd.
The Golden Rule
If the Literal Rule yields an absurd outcome, the judge will apply the
Golden Rule.
When the usual meaning of a word causes unjust outcomes, judges
interpret the offending word to reduce the absurdity.
Thus “pedestrian” is interpreted so as not to include people walking
to freeway phones in an emergency. Such people are not pedestrians
and can’t be charged under the Act.
Also called the Purpose Rule. If the Literal and Golden Rules have
failed to achieve a just result, the judge will seek the wrong (or
mischief) that parliament was trying to legislate for and interpret
the Act in accordance with parliament’s intention.
Parliament is clearly aiming to prevent people walking on the
freeway as regular pedestrians, not trying to prevent broken down
motorist seeking help.
Extraneous Materials
Judges will refer to the specific words of a section of the Act itself for
its meaning but sometimes the meaning is still unclear. If this is the
case then materials external to the problem section of the Act may
be consulted – These are called Extraneous Materials
Interpretation Acts
Legal Maxims
Ejusdem generis
Noscitur a sociis
Expressio unis est exclusio alterius
Ejusdem Generis
Noscitur a sociis
Once a court has declared the statute law – that is said what a
statute means that interpretation is a precedent. Lower courts must
apply the statute as declared by higher courts.
Equivalent or superior courts will regard the interpretation as
persuasive.