STATCON LEGAL MAXIMS Hoc quidem perquam durum est, sed ita lex scripta

(Chapter 4 and 5) est.

It is exceedingly hard, but so the law is written.

Chapter IV – ADHERENCE TO, OR DEPARTURE FROM,

B. DEPARTURE FROM LITERAL INTERPRETATION
LANGUAGE OF STATUTE LITERAL INTERPRETATION

Index animi sermo est. Aequitas nunquam contravenit legis.

Speech is the index of intention. Equity never acts in contravention of the law.

Animus hominis est anima scripti. Aequum et bonum est lex legume.
The intention of the party is the soul. What is good and equal is the law of laws.

Verba legis non est recedendum. Jus ars boni et aequi.

From the words of the statute there should be no departure. Law is the art of equity.

Maledicta et exposition quae corrumpit textum. Ratio legis est anima legis.
It is bad construction which corrupts the text. The reason of the law is the soul of the law.

Littera scripta manet. Littera necat spiritus vivificate.

The written word endures. The letter kills but the spirit gives life.

Clausula rebus sic stantibus. Verba intentioni, non e contra, debent inservice.
Things thus standing. Words ought to be more subservient to the intent, and not
the intent to the words.
Absoluta sentential expositore non indigent.
When the language of the law is clear, no explanation is Benignus leges interpretandae sunt, quod voluntas
required. eraum conservetur.
Laws are to be construed liberally, so that their spirit and
Dura lex sed lex. reason be preserved.
The law may be harsh but it is the law.
Qui haret in littera haret in cortice.
He who considers merely the letter of an instrument goes
but skin deep into its meaning.

1

Quando verba statute sunt speciali, ratio autem
generalia, statum generaliter est intelligendum.
When the words used in a statute are special, but the
purpose of the law is general, it should be read as the
general expression.
Cessante rationi legis, cessat ipsa lex.
When the reason of the law ceases, the law itself ceases.
Interpretatio talis in ambiguis simper fienda est ut
evitetur inconveniens et absurdum.
Where there is ambiguity, the interpretation of such that
will avoid inconveniences and absurdity is to be adopted.
Legis construction non facit injuriam.
The construction of the law will not be such as to work
injury or injustice.
Argumentum ab inconvenient plurimum valet in lege.
An argument drawn from inconvenience is forcible in law.
Verba nihil operari melius est quam absurde.
It is better that words should have no operation at all than
that they should operate absurdly.
Lex simper intendit quod convenit rationi.
The law always intends that which is in accordance with
reason.
Ubi eadem ratio ibi idem jus.
Like reason doth make like law.
2
Argumentum a simili valet in lege.
An argument drawn from a similar case, or analogy,
prevails in law.
De similibus idem est judicium.
Concerning similars, the judgment is the same.
Ubi eadem est ratio, ibi est eadem legis disposition.
Where there is the same reason, there is the same law
Ea est accipienda interpretation quae vitio caret.
That interpretation is to be adopted which is free from evil
or injustice.
Lex injusta non est lex.
An unjust law is not a law.
Fiat justitia, ruat coelum .
Let right be done, though the heavens fall.
Nemo est supra legis.
Nobody is above the law.
Nulla potential supra legis esse debet.
No power must be above the law.
Jurae naturae aequum est neminem cum alterius
detrimento et injuria fieri locupletiorem.
It is certainly not agreeable to natural justice that a
stranger should reap the pecuniary produce of another
man’s work.
Surplusagium non nocet.
Surplusage does not vitiate a statute.
Utile per inutile non vitiatur.
The useful is not vitiated by the non-useful.
Falsa demostratio non nocet, cum de corpore constat.
False description does not preclude construction nor vitiate
the meaning of the statute.
Nil facit error nominis cum de corpora vel persona
constat.
Error in name does not make an instrument inoperative
when the description is sufficiently clear.
Certum est quod certum reddi potest.
That is sufficiently certain which can be made certain.
Ibi quid generaliter conceditur, inest haec exception,
si non aliquid sit contras jus basque.
Where anything is granted generally, exemption from rigid
application of law is implied; that nothing shall be contrary
to law and right.
Summum jus, summa injuria.
The rigor of the law would be the highest injustice.
Jus summum saepe, summa est militia.
Extreme law is often extreme wrong.
Nemo tenetur ad impossibilia.
The law obliges no one to perform an impossibility.
3
Impossibilum nulla obigatio est.
There is no obligation to do an impossible thing.
Lex non cogit ad impossibilia.
The law does not require an impossibility.
Lex non intendit aliquid impossible.
The law does not intend the impossible.
C. IMPLICATIONS
Ex necessitate legis.
By the necessary implication of law.
In eo quod plus sit, simper inest et minus.
The greater includes the lesser.
Cui jurisdiction data est, ea quoque concessa esse
videntur sine quibus jurisdiction explicari non potuit.
When jurisdiction is given, all powers and means essential
to its exercise are also given.
Ubi jus, ibi remedium.
Where there is a right, there is a remedy for violation
thereof.
Ubi jus incertum, ibi jus nullum.
Where the law is uncertain, there is no right.
Ex dolo malo non oritur action.
An action does not arise from fraud.
Nullius commodum capere potest de injuria sua
propria.
No one may derive advantage from his own unlawful act.
In pari delicto potior est condition defendentis.
Where the parties are equally at fault, the position of the
defending party is the better one.
Quando aliquid prohibetur ex directo, prohibetur et
per obliquum.
What cannot, by law, be done directly cannot be done
indirectly.
Chapter V – INTERPRETATION OF WORDS AND
PHRASES
A. IN GENERAL
Generalia verba sunt generaliter intelligenda.
General words should be understood in their general sense.
Generis dictum generaliter est interpretandum.
A general statement is understood in its general sense.
Verba accipienda sunt secundum subjectam
materiam.
A word is to be understood in the context in which it is
used.
Verba mere aequivoca, si per communem usum
loquendi in intellectu certo sumuntur, talis intellectus
preferendus est.
4
Equivocal words or those with double meaning are to be
understood according to their common and ordinary sense.
Verba artis ex arte.
Words of art should be explained from their usage in the art
to which they belong.
Verba generalia restringuntur ad habilitatem rei vel
personam.
General words should be confined according to the subject-
matter or persons to which they relate.
Ubi lex non distinguit necnon distinguere debemus.
Where the law does not distinguish, the courts should not
distinguish.
Dissimilum dissimilis est ratio.
Of things dissimilar, the rule is dissimilar.
B. ASSOCIATED WORDS
Noscitur a sociis.
A thing is known by its associates.
Ejusdem generis.
Of the same kind or species.
Expressio unius est exclusion alterius.
The express mention of one person, thing or consequence
implies the exclusion of all others.
Expressum facit cessare tacitum.
What is expressed puts an end to that which is implied.
Argumentum a contrario.
Negative-Opposite Doctrine: what is expressed puts an end
to that which is implied.

Cassus omissus pro omisso habendus est.

A person, object or thing omitted from an enumeration
must be held to have been omitted intentionally.

Ad proximum antecedens fiat relatio nisi impediatur

sentential.
A qualifying word or phrase should be understood as
referring to the nearest antecedent.

Reddendo singular singulis.

Referring each to each, or referring each phrase or
expression to its appropriate object, or let each be put in its
proper place.

C. PROVISOS, EXCEPTIONS AND SAVING CLAUSES

Exceptio firmat regulam in casibus non exceptis.

A thing not being expected must be regarded as coming
within the purview of the general rule.

~pattythemighty 