Construction of statute
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 39 U.S. 178 - The Lessee of Henry Brewer v. Jacob Blougher · 1840Most cited · 74 citing opinions
It is undoubtedly the duty of the Court to ascertain the meaning of the legislature, from the words used in the statute, and the subject matter to which it relates; and to restrain its operation within narrower limits than its words import, if the Court are satisfied that the literal meaning of its language would extend to cases which the legislature never designed to embrace in it.