Statuatory Interpretation Flashcards
What is the most restrictive rule for statuatory interpretation?
Literal rule
What is the least restrictive rule for statuatory interpretation?
Purposive rule
Name the 4 rules for statuatory interpretation.
Literal, Golden, Mischief, Purposive
If the meaning of a word is unknown, what should the judge do?
Use a dictionary from the year the Act was passed to find the meaning.
What should be done if there is more than one meaning to a word?
The judge should choose one (narrow) or avoid it completely if it leads to an absurd outcome (broad).
What Act was enforced in Cheeseman vs DPP?
Town and Police Clauses Act 1847
Why was Cheeseman found not guilty under the literal rule?
The word “passengers” meant passer-by in a dictionary of the time, and the police officers were not passers-by.
