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What are the 3 main common law rules of statutory interpretation:

a. Literal, golden, mischief
b. Literal, golden, purposive
c. Golden, mischief, purposive
d. Literal, mischief, purposive

1 Answer

7 votes

Final answer:

The three main common law rules of statutory interpretation are literal, golden, and mischief rules, which guide judges in applying statutes in accordance with legislative intent and judicial precedent.

Step-by-step explanation:

The three main common law rules of statutory interpretation are: literal, golden, and mischief. Option a. Literal, golden, mischief is correct.

The literal rule involves interpreting statutes based on the exact wording of the legislation, while the golden rule allows for a more flexible approach, permitting interpretation that avoids an absurd result.

Lastly, the mischief rule focuses on interpreting the law with an understanding of the problem the statute was intended to address, thereby suppressing the mischief the Parliament intended to remedy.

These rules help judges to apply the law in a manner consistent with the intention of the legislature, respecting the deeply rooted common law tradition of judicial precedent and interpretation, while ensuring the application of laws in individual cases.

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