Latin Maxims in StatCon

8/11/2019 Latin Maxims in StatCon

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Chapter II CONSTRUCTION AND INTERPRETATION

B. POWER TO CONSTRUE

1. Legis interpretation legis vim obtinet.

Judicial construction and interpretation of a statute acquires the force of law.

Chapter III AIDS TO CONSTRUCTION

C. CONTEMPORARY CONSTRCT!ON

2. Contemporanea exposition est optima et fortissimo in lege.

Conte"porar# construction is stron$est in law.

Optima est legum interpres consuetudo.

Custo" is the %est interpreter of a statute.

Regula pro lege, si deficit lex.

!n default of the law& the "a'i" rules.

3. Optimus interpres rerum usus.

The %est interpreter of the law is usa$e.


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Communis error facit jus.

Co""on error so"eti"es passes as current law.

Quod ab initio non valet in tractu temporis non convalescit.

That which was ori$inall# (oid& does not %# lapse of ti"e %eco"e (alid.

. Rati!abitio mandato ae"uiparatur.

)e$islati(e ratification is equi(alent to a "andate.

#. $tare decisis et non "uieta movere.

*ollow past precedents and do not distur% what has %een settled.

%nterest republicae ut sit finis litium.

The interest of the state de"ands that there %e an end to liti$ation.

Chapter IV ADHERENCE TO, OR DEPARTURE FROM,

LANGUAGE OF STATUTE LITERAL

INTERPRETATION

&. %ndex animi sermo est.

Speech is the inde' of intention.

'nimus !ominis est anima scripti.


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The intention of the part# is the soul.

(erba legis non est recedendum.

*ro" the words of the statute there should %e no departure.

)aledicta et exposition "uae corrumpit textum.

!t is %ad construction which corrupts the te't.

Littera scripta manet.

The written word endures.

Clausula rebus sic stantibus.

Thin$s thus standin$.

*. 'bsoluta sentential expositore non indigent.

+hen the lan$ua$e of the law is clear& no e'planation is required.

+ura lex sed lex.

The law "a# %e harsh %ut it is the law.

oc "uidem per"uam durum est, sed ita lex scripta est.

!t is e'ceedin$l# hard& %ut so the law is written.


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B. DEPARTURE FROM LITERAL INTERPRETATION

-. 'e"uitas nun"uam contravenit legis.

Equit# ne(er acts in contra(ention of the law.

'e"uum et bonum est lex legume.

+hat is $ood and equal is the law of laws.

us ars boni et ae"ui.

)aw is the art of equit#.

/. Ratio legis est anima legis.

The reason of the law is the soul of the law.

Littera necat spiritus vivificate.

The letter ,ills %ut the spirit $i(es life.

(erba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservice.

+ords ou$ht to %e "ore su%ser(ient to the intent& and not the intent to the words.

0enignus leges interpretandae sunt, "uod voluntas eraum conservetur.

)aws are to %e construed li%erall#& so that their spirit and reason %e preser(ed.


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Qui !aret in littera !aret in cortice.

-e who considers "erel# the letter of an instru"ent $oes %ut s,in deep into its "eanin$.

Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio autem generalia, statum generaliter est

intelligendum.

+hen the words used in a statute are special& %ut the purpose of the law is $eneral& it should %e

read as the $eneral e'pression.

1. Cessante rationi legis, cessat et ipsa lex.

+hen the reason of the law ceases& the law itself ceases.

11. %nterpretatio talis in ambiguis simper fienda est ut evitetur inconveniens et

absurdum.

+here there is a"%i$uit#& the interpretation of such that will a(oid incon(eniences and a%surdit#

is to %e adopted.

Legis construction non facit injuriam.

The construction of the law will not %e such as to wor, inur# or inustice.

'rgumentum ab inconvenient plurimum valet in lege.

An ar$u"ent drawn fro" incon(enience is forci%le in law.

(erba ni!il operari melius est "uam absurde.

!t is %etter that words should ha(e no operation at all than that the# should operate a%surdl#.


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Lex simper intendit "uod convenit rationi.

The law alwa#s intends that which is in accordance with reason.

bi eadem ratio ibi idem jus.

)i,e reason doth "a,e li,e law.

'rgumentum a simili valet in lege.

An ar$u"ent drawn fro" a si"ilar case& or analo$#& pre(ails in law.

+e similibus idem est judicium.

Concernin$ si"ilars& the ud$"ent is the sa"e.

bi eadem est ratio, ibi est eadem legis disposition.

+here there is the sa"e reason& there is the sa"e law

12. a est accipienda interpretation "uae vitio caret.

That interpretation is to %e adopted which is free fro" e(il or inustice.

Lex injusta non est lex.

An unust law is not a law.

13. 4iat justitia, ruat coelum .

)et ri$ht %e done& thou$h the hea(ens fall.


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5emo est supra legis.

No%od# is a%o(e the law.

5ulla potential supra legis esse debet.

No power "ust %e a%o(e the law.

1. urae naturae ae"uum est neminem cum alterius detrimento et injuria fieri

locupletiorem.

!t is certainl# not a$reea%le to natural ustice that a stran$er should reap the pecuniar# produce of

another "an/s wor,.

1#. $urplusagium non nocet.

Surplusa$e does not (itiate a statute.

tile per inutile non vitiatur.

The useful is not (itiated %# the non0useful.

1&. 4alsa demostratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat.

*alse description does not preclude construction nor (itiate the "eanin$ of the statute.

5il facit error nominis cum de corpora vel persona constat.

Error in na"e does not "a,e an instru"ent inoperati(e when the description is sufficientl# clear.

Certum est "uod certum reddi potest.


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That is sufficientl# certain which can %e "ade certain.

1*. %bi "uid generaliter conceditur, inest !aec exception, si non ali"uid sit contras

jus bas"ue.

+here an#thin$ is $ranted $enerall#& e'e"ption fro" ri$id application of law is i"plied1 thatnothin$ shall %e contrar# to law and ri$ht.

1-. $ummum jus, summa injuria.

The ri$or of the law would %e the hi$hest inustice.

us summum saepe, summa est militia.

E'tre"e law is often e'tre"e wron$.

1/. 5emo tenetur ad impossibilia.

The law o%li$es no one to perfor" an i"possi%ilit#.

%mpossibilum nulla obigatio est.

There is no o%li$ation to do an i"possi%le thin$.

Lex non cogit ad impossibilia.

The law does not require an i"possi%ilit#.

Lex non intendit ali"uid impossible.

The law does not intend the i"possi%le.


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C. IMPLICATIONS

2. x necessitate legis.

2# the necessar# i"plication of law.

%n eo "uod plus sit, simper inest et minus.

The $reater includes the lesser.

Cui jurisdiction data est, ea "uo"ue concessa esse videntur sine "uibus jurisdiction

explicari non potuit.

+hen urisdiction is $i(en& all powers and "eans essential to its e'ercise are also $i(en.

21. bi jus, ibi remedium.

+here there is a ri$ht& there is a re"ed# for (iolation thereof.

bi jus incertum, ibi jus nullum.

+here the law is uncertain& there is no ri$ht.

22. x dolo malo non oritur action.

An action does not arise fro" fraud.


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5ullius commodum capere potest de injuria sua propria.

No one "a# deri(e ad(anta$e fro" his own unlawful act.

%n pari delicto potior est condition defendentis.

+here the parties are equall# at fault& the position of the defendin$ part# is the %etter one.

23. Quando ali"uid pro!ibetur ex directo, pro!ibetur et per obli"uum.

+hat cannot& %# law& %e done directl# cannot %e done indirectl#.

Chapter V INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND

PHRASES

A. IN GENERAL

34. 5eneralia (er%a sunt $eneraliter intelli$enda.

5eneral words should %e understood in their $eneral sense.

5eneris dictu" $eneraliter est interpretandu".

A $eneral state"ent is understood in its $eneral sense.

36. 7er%a accipienda sunt secundu" su%ecta" "ateria".A word is to %e understood in the conte't in which it is used.

7er%a "ere aequi(oca& si per co""une" usu" loquendi in intellectu certo

su"untur& talis intellectus preferendus est.

Equi(ocal words or those with dou%le "eanin$ are to %e understood

accordin$ to their co""on and ordinar# sense.


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7er%a artis e' arte.

+ords of art should %e e'plained fro" their usa$e in the art to which the# %elon$.

7er%a $eneralia restrin$untur ad ha%ilitate" rei (el persona".5eneral words should %e confined accordin$ to the su%ect0"atter or persons to which the#

relate.

38. %i le' non distin$uit necnon distin$uere de%e"us.

+here the law does not distin$uish& the courts should not distin$uish.

39. :issi"ilu" dissi"ilis est ratio.

Of thin$s dissi"ilar& the rule is dissi"ilar.

B. ASSOCIATED WORDS

2-. 5oscitur a sociis.

A thin$ is ,nown %# its associates.

2/. jesdem generis.

Of the sa"e ,ind or species.

3. xpressio unius est exclusion alterius.

The e'press "ention of one person& thin$ or consequence i"plies the e'clusion of all others.

xpressum facit cessare tacitum.

+hat is e'pressed puts an end to that which is i"plied.


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31. 'rgumentum a contrario.

Ne$ati(e0Opposite :octrine; what is e'pressed puts an end to that which is i"plied.

32. Cassus omissus pro omisso !abendus est.

A person& o%ect or thin$ o"itted fro" an enu"eration "ust %e held to ha(e %een o"ittedintentionall#.

33. 'd proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur sentential.

A qualif#in$ word or phrase should %e understood as referrin$ to the nearest antecedent.

3. Reddendo singular singulis.

Referrin$ each to each& or referrin$ each phrase or e'pression to its appropriate o%ect& or leteach %e put in its proper place.

C. PROVISOS, EXCEPTIONS AND SAVING CLAUSES

3#. xceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis.

A thin$ not %ein$ e'pected "ust %e re$arded as co"in$ within the pur(iew of the $eneral rule.

Chapter VI STATUTE CONSIDERED AS A WHOLE IN

RELATION TO OTHER STATUTES

A. STATUTE CONSTRUED AS A WHOLE


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3&. Optima statute interpretatrix est ipsum statutum.

The %est interpreter of the statute is the statute itself.

x tota materia emergat resolution.

The e'position of a statute should %e "ade fro" all its parts put to$ether.

%njustum est, nisi tota lege inspecta, de una ali"ua ejus particula proposita indicare

vel respondere.

!t is unust to decide or to respond as to an# particular part of a law without e'a"inin$ the whole

of the law.

5emo enim ali"uam partem recte intelligere possit ante"uam totum interum at"ue

interim perlegit.

The sense and "eanin$ of the law is collected %# (iewin$ all the parts to$ether as one whole and

not of one part onl# %# itself.

x antecendentibus et conse"uentibus fit optima interpretation.

A passa$e will %e %est interpreted %# reference to that which precedes and follows it.

(erba posterima propter certitudinem addita ad priora "uae certitudine indigent

sunt referenda.

Reference should %e "ade to a su%sequent section in order to e'plain a pre(ious clause of whichthe "eanin$ is dou%tful.

3*. %nterpretatio fienda est ut res magis valeat "uam pereat.

A law should %e interpreted with a (iew of upholdin$ rather than destro#in$ it.


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B. STATUTE CONSTRUED IN RELATION TO

CONSTITUTION AND OTHER STATUTES

3-. 6ari materia.

Of the sa"e "atter.

%nterpretare et concordare leges legibus est optimus interpretandi modus.

E(er# statute "#st %e so construed and har"oni


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$tatuta pro publico commodo late interpretantur.

Statutes enacted for the pu%lc $ood are to %e construed li%erall#.

6rivatum incommodum publico bono pensatur.

The pri(ate interests of the indi(idual "ust $i(e wa# to the acco""odation of the pu%lic.

B. STATUTES STRICTL CONSTRUED

1. 'ctus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea.

The act does not "a,e a person $uilt# unless the "ind is also $uilt#.

'ctus me invito facturs non est meus actus.

An act done %# "e a$ainst "# will is not "# act.

2. 6rivilegia recipiunt largam interpretationem voluntate consonem concedentis.

Pri(ile$es are to %e interpreted in accordance with the will of hi" who $rants the".

Renunciatio non praesumitur.

Renunciation cannot %e presu"ed.

3. $trictissimi juris.

*ollow the law strictl#.


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. 5ullum tempus occurit regi.

There can %e no le$al ri$ht as a$ainst the authorit# that "a,es the law on which the ri$ht

depends.

Chapter VIII MANDATOR AND DIRECTIONAL

STATUTES

A. MANDATOR STATUTES

#. (igilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt.

The law aids the (i$ilant& not those who slu"%er on their ri$hts.

6otior est in tempore, potior est in jure.

-e who is first in ti"e is preferred in ri$ht.

Chapter IX PROSPECTIVE AND RETROACTIVE

STATUTES

A. IN GENERAL

&. Lex prospicit, non respicit.

The law loo,s forward& not %ac,ward.


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A. REPEAL

/. Leges posteriores priores contrarias abrogant.

)ater statutes repeal prior ones which are repu$nant thereto.

#. 7eneralia specialibus non derogant.

A $eneral law does not nullif# a specific or special law.

BINDING FORCE OF RULES OF INTERPRETATION

AND CONSTRUCTION

'. %gnorantia legis neminem excusat.

!$norance of the law e'cuses no one.

LANGUAGE OF STATUTE WHEN AMBIGUOUS

0. %n obscuris inspici solere "uod versimilius est, aut "uod plerum"ue fieri solet.

+hen "atters are o%scure& it is custo"ar# to ta,e what appears to %e "ore li,el# or what usuall#

often happens.

'mbiguitas verborum patens nulla verificatione excluditur.

A patent a"%i$uit# cannot %e cleared up %# e'trinsic e(idence.


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PRESUMPTION AGAINST IN!USTICE AND HARDSHIP

C. 'd ea "uae fre"uentibus accidunt jura adaptatur.

)aws are understood to %e adapted to those cases which "ost frequentl# occur.

us constitui oportet in !is "uae ut plurimum accidunt non "uae ex inordinato.

)aws ou$ht to %e "ade with a (iew to those cases which happen "ost frequentl#& and not to

those which are of rare or accidental occurrence.

Quod semel aut bis existit praetereunt legislatores.

)e$islators pass o(er what happens onl# once or twice.

+e minimis non curat lex.

The law does not concern itself with triflin$ "atters.

TITLE OF THE ACT "INTRINSIC AID#

+. 5igrum 5un"uam xcedere +ebet Rubrum.

The %lac, =%od# of the act printed in %lac,> should ne(er $o %e#ond the red =title or ru%ric of the

statute printed in red>

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Latin Maxims in StatCon