Law
How Statutory Interpretation Canons Shape Plain Meaning Analysis
Quick fact
The 'plain meaning rule' is not absolute: courts frequently rely on canons of construction, like the rule that specific statutes trump general ones (generalia specialibus non derogant), to decide what the words really mean.
Why this is interesting
When judges read a law, they often say they look at the 'plain meaning' of the words—but what happens when the words aren't so plain? The answer lies in a set of interpretive rules that can tip the scales of justice.