Methods Used By Judges To Interpret Acts Flashcards
When will the courts look further to apply the intention of parliament to their current situation (2)
If the meaning of the words is unclear to the courts or if the courts are unsure how to apply the act
Why do courts look at past decisions?
To see how courts have previously interpreted the words in an Act
What approach to judges generally used when interpreting meaning to words
The literal approach
What is the literal approach
To ascertain the precise meaning of a word
What approach will the judges uses if they feel the literal approach is not an effective method
The purposive approach
What is the purposive approach
Looking at the purpose of the Act and what was intended to be achieved with it
What is the golden rule?
The elaboration of the literal approach
