Statutes

Question 1

Plain Meaning Rule

Answer 1

Courts first look to the words of a statute and apply their use and ordinary meanings.
->EXCEPT when applying the plain meaning leads to injustice or oppression.

Question 2

Ambiguity Doctrine

Answer 2

An ambiguous criminal statute must be strictly construed in favor of the defendant.
-Ambiguous: susceptible to two or more equally reasonable interpretations.

Question 3

Specific and General

Answer 3

If two statutes address the same subject matter, but dictate different outcomes, the more specific statute will be applied instead.
- A more recently enacted statute will control the older statute.

Question 4

Rule of Lenity

Answer 4

applies only if after seizing everything from which aid can be derived, we can make no more than a guess to what Congress intended.
-> To invoke the rule, we must conclude that there is a grievous ambiguity or uncertainty in the statute.