Statutory interpretation

Statutory interpretation is like playing a game with rules. The rules are made by big people called lawmakers, and they use special words to explain what they mean. But sometimes, these rules can be confusing or unclear, like trying to figure out what your parents mean when they tell you to clean your room. That's when judges step in to help!

When judges have to interpret the rules, they use special tools like dictionaries and other laws to help them understand what the lawmakers meant. They have to be very careful to follow the rules exactly as they are written and not add anything extra, just like you have to follow the rules of a board game.

Sometimes, there are different ways to interpret a rule, just like how different people might want to play a game differently. In those cases, the judges will look at the purpose of the rule (why it was made) and choose the interpretation that makes the most sense for that purpose. It's like trying to figure out the best way to play a game so that everyone has fun and no one gets hurt.

In the end, the judges' job is to make sure that the rules are applied fairly and consistently, just like how you want to play a game fairly and have everyone follow the rules. And that's what statutory interpretation is all about!