Constitutional & Statutory Interpretation Lawyers serving Denver and Colorado

Statutory interpretation refers to what a law's meaning is thought to be, and how it is applied in everyday life. Although current laws have been thoroughly examined, deliberated and evaluated, not all laws in effect today will always remain in effect. Our justice system relies on the continuous scrutiny of public policies and their effectiveness to ensure fairness. In short, constitutional and statutory debate gives us the leeway to quash unfair laws, for the benefit of the public.

The language of laws

The specific language used in many statutes is cut and dried. In others, it may be ambiguous, or open to a new interpretation by a judge. An experienced lawyer can apply statutory interpretation as a means of helping the court see your case in a certain light and highlight the facets of a law that add credibility to your case.

The attorneys at Zakhem Atherton will combine diplomacy skills with keen strategy to protect your constitutional rights. We can advise you on how to frame policy positions and how to build strong arguments for or against certain rules.

If you are a business owner, corporate officer, or private citizen and you believe a law or statute infringes upon or ignores your rights, our experienced constitutional and statutory interpretation attorneys will argue and litigate your position.

To call into question the place of a law in our modern system, we can use:

• Diligent research
• Established facts
• Expert testimony
• Legislative history
• Law purpose
• Evidence of ineffectiveness

Modes of interpretation

When faced with ambiguity, judges have a number of ways they can interpret words:

Original Intent - The meaning intended by whoever wrote the words

Textualism - The ordinary meaning of the words

Precedent - Use of case histories to justify certain meanings

Logical - Use of logic to decide on a meaning

Prudentialism - Using doctrine to establish a precedent for a new or complex set of arguments

Structuralism - Taking a unique approach to every case, regardless of history, and using a balancing test of government powers vs. people's rights

Constitutional interpretation

Constitutional interpretation is often controversial. Our Constitution is a short document, and is the original basis for hundreds of thousands of laws. The task of interpreting it, and the laws based on it, often falls to a judge, and the task of swaying that judge's interpretation falls to attorneys. A skilled attorney can provide clear and valid arguments for or against the constitutionality of any given law.

For modern, assertive legal guidance, trust the Colorado civil litigation lawyers of Zakhem Atherton, LLC. Call or email our office today for a free personal consultation.