retrospective construction
Defined in 1 dictionary — Case Law
Definitions from Case Law
From 43 U.S. 581 - Sally Ladiga v. Ricard De Marcus · 1844Most cited · 10 citing opinions
It is a principle which has always been held sacred in the United States, that laws by which human action is to be regulated, look forward, not backward, and are never to be construed retrospectively, unless the language of the act should render that indispensable.