letter of the law
Strict textual interpretation
The letter of the law is the exact wording of a rule, as opposed to its spirit or intent.
Someone who follows the letter of the law complies technically while possibly violating what the rule was meant to achieve: He obeyed the letter of the law but not its spirit.
Often used to describe legalistic or pedantic compliance.
Reading rules literally
- verbatimIn identical wording
- textualOf written content
- exactnessCorrectness in every detail
- precisionAccuracy of measurement
specificity · adherence · compliance · fidelity · accuracy · literal reading · plain meaning · black-and-white
Enacted written rule
- codeSymbolic communication system
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
jurisprudence · textualism · originalism · codification · enactment · canon · mandate · directive
Precise procedural point
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- gray areaAmbiguous, ill-defined situation
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
- evasionAct of escaping detection
circumvent · bypass · exemption · escape clause · fine print · gap · dodge · maneuver
Judicial proceedings chamber
- judgeOne who decides
- verdictOfficial court decision
- tribunalJudicial decision-making body
- adjudicationFormal decision on disputes
ruling · precedent · litigation · interpretation · testimony · prosecution · defense · injunction
Quality of being unbending
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- strictnessInflexibility in enforcement
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
- hardlineStubbornly inflexible in stance
intransigence · unbending · uncompromising · adamant · obdurate · no exceptions · zero tolerance · absolutism
strict interpretation
Reading rules literally
precision · specificity · adherence · compliance · fidelity · accuracy · literal reading · plain meaning · black-and-white · by the book
statute
Enacted written rule
- codeSymbolic communication system
- provisionPreparatory supply or clause
- ordinanceOfficial government regulation
regulation · jurisprudence · textualism · originalism · codification · enactment · canon · mandate · directive · bylaw
technicality
Precise procedural point
- exploitNotable act or abuse
- gray areaAmbiguous, ill-defined situation
- ambiguityOpenness to multiple interpretations
evasion · circumvent · bypass · exemption · escape clause · fine print · gap · dodge · maneuver · sidestep
courtroom
Judicial proceedings chamber
adjudication · ruling · precedent · litigation · interpretation · testimony · prosecution · defense · injunction · bench
inflexibility
Quality of being unbending
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- strictnessInflexibility in enforcement
- dogmatismUnyielding adherence to doctrine
hardline · intransigence · unbending · uncompromising · adamant · obdurate · no exceptions · zero tolerance · absolutism · stiffness
- Rule-followingstickler, toe the line, code, protocol, regulation
- legal termstrial, legal, appeal, lawsuit, law
- hypocrisyhypocrisy, hypocrite, sanctimony, two-faced, self-righteousness
- Book Idiomsby the book, closed book, open book, on the same page, same page
- literalismliteralism, plain meaning, verbatim, word-for-word, surface meaning
letter of the lawspirit of the law
A statute's underlying purpose
legislative intent · original intent · true meaning · deeper meaning
letter of the lawequity
Impartial treatment or ownership value
judicial discretion · natural justice · fairness · common sense · reasonableness
letter of the lawjudicial discretion
Judge's decision-making freedom
flexibility · pragmatism · case-by-case basis · common sense
letter, letters, lettered, lettering, lawful, lawyer, legislate, legislation, legislative