This seminar will consider various theories about interpretation of legal texts. The primary emphasis will be on statutory interpretation and constitutional interpretation, but we shall pay some attention to interpretation of wills, trusts, and contracts, and to interpretation of nonlegal texts. In these contexts, we will evaluate the claims of textualism, intentionalism, purposivism, evolutionary interpretation, and other approaches. Most of the readings will be of scholarly writings, but some cases will be included. In the first part of the semester, we will discuss assigned materials. In the second part, we will discuss drafts of students' papers. Prior to those discussions, other students will write brief comments about the papers. The final papers will respond to those comments as well as the review of the professor.
Section Offerings for 2012-13
| Course No. | Term | Name | ||
| & Section | Instructor(s) | Schedule | Location | |
| L9555-001 | 13S | Legal Interpretation | ||
| K. Greenawalt | T 4:20 PM-6:10 PM | GRHL 807 | ||
Choose a section for more information, including section descriptions, faculty, course limitations, syllabi, evaluations, points, writing credit eligibility, evaluation methods, textbooks, and learning outcome goals.
