Statutory Interpretation
40 groups with Washington opinions1891–2026
- Legislative Intent and Construction332 opinions · 1891–2026Determining legislative intent in statutory construction · Determining legislative intent through statutory interpretation · Interpreting statutes to effectuate legislative intent
- Statutory Interpretation Principles and Rules99 opinions · 1974–2026Interpreting statutes: plain language versus absurdity · Interpreting statutes: plain meaning and ambiguity · Interpreting statutes as a whole and exceptions
- Statutory; Language; Meaning89 opinions · 1956–2026Determining when to apply canons of construction · Interpreting statutory terms by considering context · Interpreting statutory language to avoid superfluous words
- Statutory Retroactivity and Application71 opinions · 1967–2025Applying legislative amendments to pending appeals regarding LFOs · Determining retroactive effect of statutes burdening private rights · Interpreting legislative intent for retroactive statutory application
- Lenity and Stare Decisis in Construction65 opinions · 1976–2026Determining rational connection for statutory presumption · Interpreting statutory ambiguity under the rule of lenity · Interpreting statutory language and public safety purpose
- Statutory Interpretation of Criminal Law60 opinions · 1973–2026Analyzing state statutes regarding juvenile sentencing laws · Analyzing statutory language regarding DUI conduct types · Applying rule 408 to civil versus criminal proceedings
- Tax; Statutory; Construction57 opinions · 1955–2026Statutory construction principles for taxing statutes · Interpreting "special charge" under tax statutes · Reconciling statutory exemptions and agency regulations
- Statutory construction; Statutory interpretation; Statutes57 opinions · 1979–2026Determining standard of review for statutory interpretation · Determining plain meaning in statutory construction · Determining statutory ambiguity and judicial construction
- Retroactive; Retroactivity; Law54 opinions · 1975–2024Analyzing whether case law constitutes a significant legal change · Determining retroactivity of a statute's application · Analyzing state law's potential for retroactive rule application
- Meetings; Open; Executive session52 opinions · 1974–2026Defining legal sufficiency of recall petition allegations · Analyzing council meetings under open public meetings act · Determining when meetings must comply with sunshine law
- Extrinsic Aids to Legislative Intent42 opinions · 1975–2021Legislature amending preference statute to tie-breaker · Determining statutory meaning from voter intent · Determining statutory meaning and election ballot requirements
- Statutory Interpretation and Meaning42 opinions · 1965–2024Determining scope of general legislative title · Determining general versus restrictive titles of statutes · Determining statutory ambiguity under § 2422(b)
- Municipal Law and Local Government Powers40 opinions · 1975–2026Interpreting statutory scope regarding municipal corporations · Determining ordinance clarity through context and available law · Purpose and scope of section 102(b)(7) charter provision
- Mandatory vs. Discretionary Statutory Language38 opinions · 1928–2026Resolving statutory interplay between growth management statutes · Interpreting statute to avoid limiting court jurisdiction · Interpreting statutory requirements and general duty clause standards
- Tax; Property; Income28 opinions · 1922–2017Taxability of retained power to alter trust terms · Avoiding sales tax through contractual title transfer · Tax authority over transmission of property by death
- Statutory Time Limits and Deadlines22 opinions · 1993–2026Strict construction of time limits in civil commitment proceedings · Interpreting statutory terms and time calculations · Court finding compliance with statutory mandate
- Value; Valuation; Market21 opinions · 1988–2025Determining asset value for partition based on timing · Determining fair value under appraisal statutes · Distinguishing fair market value from reasonably equivalent value
- Taxation Law and Exemptions19 opinions · 1935–2012Analyzing the scope of the physical presence requirement for sales tax · Exempting sales of inconsequential elements under tax code · Taxing sales versus taxing the article itself
- Tax; Evasion; Fraud19 opinions · 1988–2014Reviewing standard of evidence and tax liability · Determining if tax evasion is a continuing offense · Defining specific intent and moral turpitude in tax evasion
- License; Suspension; Revocation19 opinions · 1977–2017Challenging license suspension under due process and rational basis · Interpreting statute to limit alcohol concentration offense · Distinguishing substantial compliance under statutory discharge rules
- Statutory; Language; Intent19 opinions · 1973–2023Determining dismissal when statutory requirements are disregarded · Analyzing legislative intent regarding strict liability crimes · Enforcing insurance contracts against intentional discrimination
- Vehicle; Driving; License18 opinions · 1967–2015Prohibiting driving under the influence under state law · Interpreting "vehicle" in 1919 motor vehicle statute · Interpreting statutory language regarding vehicle presence
- Ejusdem generis; Meaning; Word17 opinions · 2000–2021Interpreting initiative language based on ordinary meaning · Applying ejusdem generis to statutory enumeration · Interpreting contract terms using noscitur a sociis
- Tax; Assessment; Burden16 opinions · 1994–2014Applying retroactive tax amendments to estate deductions · Assignability of tax claims against government entities · Defining a tax return by presence of financial data
- Statutory Interpretation and Legislative History15 opinions · 1980–2024Tracing the legislative history of a specific statute · Evolution of statutory law and codification in Pennsylvania · Interpreting statutory relationship through legislative history
- Wildlife; Hunting; Animals12 opinions · 1991–2021Determining recent overt act requirement for predator confinement · Privilege of public officials committing trespass · Prosecution of eagle feather sales under federal statute
- Property; Valuation; Assessment11 opinions · 1997–2024Defining special benefit for local improvements · Statutory interpretation of property valuation for airport fees · Alleging unequal property tax assessment practices
- Death; Statutory; Estate10 opinions · 1978–2021Requiring defendants to bear costs upon death · Agency duty to disclose health information in adoption · Interpreting wrongful death statute limitations in light of common law torts
- Charitable; Tax exemption; Public charity8 opinions · 1984–2014Determining charitable status under tax code provisions · Determining scope of non-profit law claims · Dissenting opinion on charitable deduction timing
- Property value; Testimony property; Valuation7 opinions · 1995–2017Owner's testimony regarding property market value · Determining evidence admissibility after property relinquishment · Determining sufficiency of evidence for property value
- Business and Income Tax Deductions6 opinions · 1987–2019Determining home for tax deduction purposes under section 162(a)(2) · Determining when the window of correction applies to deductions · Determining if written-off bills are incurred expenses
- Depletion; Tax; Debt6 opinions · 1988–2018Analyzing major purpose test and independent expenditure reporting · Determining specificity of overpayment as a fund · Determining liability for interest after court orders and delays
- Real Property Valuation Principles and Methods5 opinions · 1980–2007Determining fair market value for depreciation and rent · Determining economic value and secrecy of recipes · Determining property value based on potential subdivision
- Income; Tax purposes; Apportionment5 opinions · 1960–2021Taxing foreign corporations based on authorized capital stock · Apportioning tax burden across different property interests · Broad construction of income from any source
- Preventing restoration of prior placement due to time passing · Examining power to order expungement of conviction records
- Shifting burden of proof for unreported income deductions · Taxability of illegal income and reasonable doubt
- Determining minimal procedures for refunding exactions
- Adopting restatement approach to implied assessment power
- Determining transaction substance over form
- Harm from arrest records impacting reputation and employment
Counts are Washington courts’ opinions citing pages in each group (an opinion citing two issues counts in both).
How this is built: each issue is a set of opinion pages that later courts cite for the same proposition, grouped from what the citing courts wrote. Names are machine-written from those citations; read the cases before relying on them. Search case law