What is ‘statutory interpretation’?

Statutory interpretation refers to the process by which courts interpret and apply legislation. This is a critical function of the judiciary in ensuring that laws are enforced as intended by the legislature. When courts face cases where the wording of a statute may be ambiguous or unclear, they employ various methods of interpretation to ascertain the meaning of the law and how it applies to specific situations. This may involve looking at the statutory text, the context of its provisions, the purpose behind the legislation, or legal precedents.

In contrast, examining statutes for legislative history relates more to understanding the background or the intent behind a law rather than the interpretation of its meaning. The ability of legislatures to change laws easily has no bearing on the process of interpretation itself, as it's more about the flexibility of law-making. Similarly, the application of common law to statutes represents a different legal principle where established case law may influence how statutes are understood, but it is not the same as statutory interpretation. Therefore, the emphasis on interpretation highlights the judiciary's essential role in clarifying the law's meaning and its application in various contexts.