Introduction
Statutory interpretation is the process of determining the meaning of a statute. When interpreting a statute, judges rely on a number of presumptions, which are assumptions about the legislature's intent. These presumptions help judges to interpret the statute in a way that is consistent with the legislature's purpose.
Presumptions of Law in Statutory Interpretation
The following is a list of presumptions of law that judges usually take into account when interpreting a statute:
1. The plain meaning rule: This presumption is based on the idea that the legislature intends the words of a statute to have their ordinary meaning. Under this rule, judges will first look to the plain meaning of the statute's language to determine its meaning. If the language is clear and unambiguous, then the court will not resort to other methods of interpretation.
2. The rule of lenity: This presumption is based on the idea that criminal statutes should be interpreted narrowly in favor of the defendant. Under this rule, judges will interpret a criminal statute in a way that is most favorable to the defendant, even if it means that the statute is not as effective as it could be.
3. The rule of harmony: This presumption is based on the idea that the legislature intends for statutes to be consistent with each other. Under this rule, judges will interpret statutes in a way that harmonizes them with other related statutes.
4. The rule of avoidance: This presumption is based on the idea that the legislature does not intend to create absurd or unreasonable results. Under this rule, judges will interpret a statute in a way that avoids absurd or unreasonable results, even if it means that the statute is not as effective as it could be.
5. The rule of common sense: This presumption is based on the idea that the legislature intends for statutes to be interpreted in a way that makes common sense. Under this rule, judges will interpret a statute in a way that is consistent with common sense, even if it means that the statute is not as effective as it could be.
Case Law Examples
- Plain meaning rule: In -United States v. Salerno-, 481 U.S. 739 (1987), the Supreme Court held that the plain meaning of the Bail Reform Act of 1984 required that a defendant be detained if he was a danger to the community, even if he was not charged with a crime of violence.
- Rule of lenity: In -United States v. Bass-, 404 U.S. 336 (1971), the Supreme Court held that the rule of lenity applied to the interpretation of the federal drug laws. The Court held that the term "knowingly" in the drug laws required the government to prove that the defendant knew that he was possessing drugs, not just that he knew that he was possessing a substance.
- Rule of harmony: In -Chevron U.S.A., Inc. v. Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.-, 467 U.S. 837 (1984), the Supreme Court held that the rule of harmony required that the Environmental Protection Agency's interpretation of the Clean Air Act be upheld, even though the Court disagreed with the interpretation.
- Rule of avoidance: In -Dolan v. City of Tigard-, 512 U.S. 374 (1994), the Supreme Court held that the rule of avoidance required that a city's land-use regulation be struck down, because it was not related to the city's legitimate interest in preventing traffic congestion.
- Rule of common sense: In -Obergefell v. Hodges-, 135 S. Ct. 2584 (2015), the Supreme Court held that the rule of common sense required that same-sex couples be allowed to marry. The Court held that the traditional definition of marriage as a union between a man and a woman was based on outdated and irrational stereotypes.