Latin Maxims!

No. 1 Latin Maxim Legis interpretatio / legis vim btinet. Translation Judicial construction and interpretation of a statute acquires the force of law. Contemporary construction is strongest in law.! Custom is the best interpreter of a statute.! In default of law, the maxim rules. Loc. 139b

2a! *b! [c]

Contemporanea expositio /est ptima et fortssima in lege.! ptima est legum interpres / consuetudo.! Rgula pro lege,/ si dficit lex. ptimus interpres rerum / usus.! Communis error / facit jus.! Quod ab intio non valet / in tractu tmporis / non cnvalescit.

190t

3a! *b! *c

The best interpreter of the law is usage.! Common error sometimes passes as current law.! That which was originally void does not, by lapse of time, become valid. Legislative ratification is equivalent to a mandate. Follow past precedents and do not disturb what has been settled.! The interest of the state demands that there be an end to litigation. Speech is the index of intention.! The intention of the man is the soul of what is written.! Do not depart from the words of the statute.! It is bad construction which corrupts the text.! The written word endures.! Things thus standing. When the language of the law is clear, no explanation is required.! The law may be harsh but it is the law.! It is exceedingly hard, but so the law is written.

194m

4 5a! b 6a! [b] ! c! d! [e]! [f ] 7a! b! c

Ratihabtio / mandato aequiparatur. Stare decisis / et non quieta movere.! Interest reipblicae / ut sit finis ltium. Index nimi / sermo est.! nimus hminis / est nima scripti.! Verba legis / non est recedendum.! Maledicta est / expostio quae corrumpit textum.! Littera scripta / manet.! Clusula rebus / sic stntibus. Absoluta sentntia / expositore / non ndiget.! Dura lex / sed lex.! Hoc quidem / perquam durum est, / sed ita lex scripta est. Aquitas / nunquam contravenit legis.! Aquum et bonum / est lex legum.! Jus / ars boni et aqui. Ratio legis / est nima legis.! Lttera necat / spritus vivficat. ! Verba intentioni, / non e contra, / debent inservire.!

200t 202b! 203t 206m! 206b! 208b

209t! 209m! 209m

8a! [b]! [c ] 9a! [b]! c! ! *d! ! *e! ! *f

Equity never acts in contravention of the law.! What is good and equal is the law of laws.! Law is the art of good and equitable. The reason of the law is the soul of the law.! The letter kills but the spirit gives life.! Words ought to be more subservient to the intent and not to the words.!

210m

214t! 215m!

! !

Benignus / leges interpretandae sunt, / quod voluntas earum / conservetur.! Qui haret in lttera / haret in crtice.! Quando verba statuti sunt speciali, / ratio autem generlia, / statutum / generliter est intelligendum.

! !

Law is to be construed liberally so that its spirit and reason be preserved.! He who considers merely the letter of an instrument goes but skin deep into its meaning.! When the words used in a statute are special, but the purpose of the law is general, it should be read as the general expression. When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases. When there is ambiguity, the interpretation of such that will avoid inconvenience and absurdity is adopted.! The construction of the law will not be as such as to work injury or injustice.! An argument drawn from inconvenience is forcible in law.! It is better that words should have no operation at all than that they should operate absurdly.! The law always intends that which is in accordance with reason.! Where there is the same reason, there is the same law.! An argument drawn from a similar case, or analogy prevails in law.! Concerning similars, the judgement is the same.! Where the reason is the same, there is the same verdict of the law That interpretation is to be adopted which is free from injustice.! An unjust law is not a law. Let right be done, though the heavens fall.! Nobody is above the law. ! No power must be above the law. It is certainly not agreeable to natural justice that a stranger should reap the pecuniary produce of another mans work. Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.! The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful. 230m 236m

10

Cessante rationi legis, / cessat et ipsa lex. Interpetatio talis / in ambguis / semper fienda est / ut evitetur inconveniens / et absurdum.! Legis constructio / non facit injuriam.!

11a! *b! ! *c! *d! ! *e! *f! [g] ! [h]! [i ]

! !

Argumentum ab inconvenienti / plrimum valet in lege.! Verba / nihil operari melis est / quam absurde.! Lex / semper intendit / quod convenit rationi.! Ubi edem ratio / ibi idem jus.! Argumentum a smili / valet in lege.! De simlibus / idem est judicium. ! Ubi edem est ratio, / ibi est edem legis dispostio. Ea est accipienda interpretatio quae vitio caret.! Lex injusta non / est lex. Fiat justtia, / ruat coelum.! Nemo est / supra legis.! Nulla potentia / supra legis esse debet. Jurae naturae aequum est / nminem / cum altrius detrimento et injuria / feri locupletirem. Surplusgium / non nocet.! tile / per inutile / non vitiatur.

12a! [b] 13a! [b]! [c] 14

243b

245t

248m

15a! b

250m! 250m

Latin Maxims!
16a! ! *b! ! *c Falsa demonstratio / non nocet, / cum de crpore constat.!

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Nil facit / error nminis / cum de crpore vel persona / constat.! Certum est / quod certum reddi potest.

False description does not preclude construction nor vitiate the meaning of the statute.! Error in name does not make an instrument inoperative when the description is sufficiently clear. ! That is sufficiently certain which can be made certain.

252t

17

Ibi / quid generliter concditur, / inest haec exceptio, / si non liquid sit contras / jus basque. Summum jus, / summa injria.! Jus summum saepe, / summa est malitia. Nemo / tenetur ad impossiblia.! Impossiblium nulla / obligtio est.! Lex / non cogit ad impossiblia.! Lex / non intendit liquid impossbile. Ex necessitate legis.! In eo / quod plus sit, / semper inest et minus.! Ci / jurisdctio data est, / ea quoque / concessa esse videntur / sine quibus jurisdictio / explicari non ptuit. Ubi jus, / ibi remdium.! Ubi jus incertum, / ibi jus nullum. Ex dolo malo / non ritur actio.! Nullus / cmmodum cpere potest / de injuria sua propria.! In pari delicto / ptior est condtio defendentis. Quando liquid / prohibetur ex directo, / prohibetur et per oblquum. Generlia verba / sunt generliter intelligenda.! Generale dictum / generliter est interpretandum.

Where anything is granted generally, exemption from rigid application of law is implied: that nothing shall be contrary to law. The rigor of the law would be the highest injustice.! Extreme law is often extreme wrong. The law obliges no one to perform an impossibility.! There is no obligation to do an impossible thing.! The law does not require an impossibility.! The law does not intend the impossible. By the necessary implication of law. ! The greater includes the lesser. ! When jurisdiction is given, all powers and means essential to its exercise are also given. Where there is a right, there is a remedy for the violation thereof.! Where the law is uncertain, there is no right. An action does not arise from fraud.! No one may derive advantage from his own unlawful act.! Where the parties are equally at fault, the position of the defending party is the better one. What cannot by law be done directly cannot be done indirectly.

252m

18a! [b] 19a! b! *c! *d 20a! b! *c

252b

253t! 253t

255m! 255m

21a! [b] 22a! b! c

257m

265b! 265b! 266t

23

267t

24a! b

General words should not be understood in their general sense.! A general statement is understood in its general sense.!

276m! 276m

25a! *b! ! *c! ! *d

Verba / accipienda sunt / secundum subjectam matriam. ! Verba mere aequivoca, / si per communem usum loquendi / in intellectu certo sumuntur, / talis intellectus / preferendus est.! Verba artis / ex arte.!

Verba generlia / restringuntur / ad habilitatem rei vel personam. 26 Ubi lex non distnguit / necnon / distnguere debemus.

A word is to be understood in the context in which it is used.! Equivocal words or those with double meaning are to be understood according to their common and ordinary sense.! Words of art should be explained from their usage in the art to which they belong.! General words should be confined according to the subject matter or persons to which they relate.

288b

Where the law does not distinguish, the courts should not distinguish. Of things dissimilar, the rule is dissimilar. A thing is known by its associates. Of the same kind or specie. 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. Negative-Opposite: What is expressed puts an end to which is implied. A person, object or thing being omitted from an enumeration must be held to have been omitted intentionally. A qualifying word or phrase should be understood as referring to the nearest antecedent. Referring to each or referring each phrase or expression to its appropriate object, or let each be put in its proper place. A thing not being expected must be regarded as coming within the purview of the general rule.

289b

27 28 29 30a! ! b 31

Dissmilum / dissmilis est ratio. Nonscitur / a sociis. Ejusdem generis.

297b 302t 309m 318b! 319t 323b

Expressio unus / est exlusio altrius.! Expressum / facit cessare / tcitum. Argumentum a contrrio.

32

Casus omissus / pro omisso / habendus est.

336b

33

Ad prximum antecedens / fiat relatio / nisi impediatur sentntia. Reddendo / sngular sngulis.

337m

34

339b

35

Exceptio / firmat rgulam / in csibus non exceptis.

346b

Latin Maxims!
36a! *b! *c! ptima statuti interpretatrix est / ipsum statutum.! Ex tota matria / emergat resoltio.! Injustum est, / nisi tota lege inspecta, / de una liqua ejus partcula propsita / indicare vel respndere! Nemo enim aliquam partem / recte intellgere possit / ntequam totum / terum atque terum perlegit.! Ex antecedntibus et consequntibus fit / ptima interpretatio.! The best interpreter of the statue is the statute itself.! The exposition of a statute should be made from all its parts combined! It is unjust to decide or to respond as to any particular apart of a law without examining the whole of the law. ! The sense and meaning of the law is collected by viewing all the parts together as one whole and not of one part only by itself. ! A passage will be best interpreted by reference to that which precedes and follows it. ! Reference should be made to a subsequent section in order to explain a previous clause of which the meaning is doubtful. A law should be interpreted with a view of upholding rather than destroying it. Of the same matter.! Every statute must be so construed and harmonized with other statutes as to have a uniform system of law. Distinguish times and you will harmonize law.! Times have changed and laws have changed with them.! With the necessary changes. The welfare of the people is the supreme law.! Statutes enacted for the public good are to be construed liberally.! The private interests of the individual must give way to the accommodation of the public. The act does not make a person guilty unless the mind is also guilty.! An act done by me against my will is not my act. Privileges are to be interpreted in accordance with the will of him who grants them. ! Renunciation cannot be presumed. Follow the law strictly. There can be no legal right as against the authority that makes the law on which the right depends. The law aids the vigilant, not those who slumber on their rights.! He who is first in time is preferred in right. The law looks forward, not backward.! The law provides for the future, the judge for the past. ! A new statute should affect the future, not the past.! 356m

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*d! *e! ! *f

Verba postrima / propter certitdinem ddita ad prioria / quae certitdine indiget / sunt referenda. 37 Interpretatio fienda est / ut res magis vleat quam preat.

360t

38a! b

Pari matria! Interpretare et concordare / leges lgibus / est ptimus interpretandi modus. Distngue tmpora / et concordabis jura.! [b]! Tmpora mutantur / et leges mutantur in illis! [c] Mutatis / mutandis. Salus ppuli / est suprema lex. ! Statuta / pro pblico cmmodo / late intepretantur.! Privatum incmmodum / pblico bono / pensatur.

376m! 376b!

39a!

379t

40a! b! *c

396t! 396t

41a! b

Actus / non facit reum / nisi mens sit ren.! Actus / me invito factus / non est meus actus.

408m! 408m

42a! [b]

Privilgia / recipiunt largam intepretationem / voluntate consonam concendentis. ! Renunciatio / non praesmitur. Strictssimi juris. Nullum tempus occurit / regi.

414t

43 44

417b 430m

45a! b 46a! b! c! ! *d! ! *e

Vigilntibus et non dormintibus / jura subveniunt.! Ptior est in tmpore,/ ptior est in jure. Lex prspicit, / non rspicit.! Lex de futuro, / judex de praetrito.! Nova constitution / futuris formam impnere debet non praeteritis.! Leges quae, retrospiciunt,/ et magna cum cautione sunt adhibendae / neque enim Janus locatur in legibus.! Leges et constitutiones / futuris / certum est dare formam / negtiis, non ad facta praeterita revocari, / nisi nominatim / et de praeterito tmpore et adhuc pendntibus negtiis / cautum sit. Nullum crimen sine poena, / nulla poena sine lege.

474b! 474b 489b! 489b! 490t

Laws which are retrospective are rarely and cautiously received for Janus has really no place in the laws.! Laws should be construed as prospective, not retrospective, unless they are expressly made applicable to past transactions and to such as are still pending.

47

There is no crime without a penalty. There is no penalty without a law. Penal laws which are favorable to the accused are given retroactive effect. Later statutes repeal prior ones which are repugnant thereto. A general law does not nullify a specific or a special law.

494t

48

Favorabilia sunt amplianda, / odiosa rstringenda.

497t

49 50

Leges posteriores / priores contrrias brogant. Generalia / specilibus /non drogant.

563t 564m

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*A *B 1! ! [2] Ignorntia legis / nminem excusat In obscuris / nspici slere quod verisimlius est,/ aut quod plerumque feri solet.! Ambigitas verborum patens / nulla verificatione excluditur Ignorance of the law excuses no one. When matters are obscure, it is customary to take what appears to be more likely or what usually often happens.! A patent ambiguity can be cleared up by extrinsic evidence (unless perfectly vague) Laws are understood to be adapted to those cases which most frequently occur.! Laws ought to be made with a view to those cases which happen most frequently and not those which are of rare or accidental occurrence.! Legislators pass over what happens only once or twice. ! The law does not concern itself with trifling matters.

*C 1! *2! ! *3 ! [4]

Ad ea / quae frequntibus accident / jura adaptatur! Jus consttui oportet in his / quae ut plrimum accident / non quae ex inrdinato.! Quod / semel aut bis / existit / praetreunt legislatores.! De mnimis / non curat lex.

Latin Maxims!
*D Nigrum / numquam excedre debet /rubrum. The black (body of the act printed in black) should never go beyond the red (title or rubric of the statute printed in red).