lenity
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
United States Supreme Court
When Congress leaves to the Judiciary the task of imputing to Congress an undeclared will, the ambiguity should be resolved in favor of lenity. It may fairly be said to be a presupposition of our law to resolve doubts in the enforcement of a penal code against the imposition of a harsher punishment.
Defined by the Supreme Court in - Bell v. United States, 349 U.S. 81 (1955).