Key takeaways:
- The Supreme Court is set to hear a case on October 2nd that will determine the meaning of the word “and.”
- The interpretation of the word “and” has caused a complicated legal fight, with federal courts across the country disagreeing on whether it means “and” or “or.”
- The Supreme Court’s decision on the matter could affect thousands of prison sentences each year and is an example of the importance of language and the power of words.
The Supreme Court is set to hear a case on October 2nd that will determine the meaning of a simple word: “and.” The case is based on a 2018 bipartisan criminal justice overhaul and requires the close parsing of a part of a federal statute. The interpretation of the word “and” has caused a complicated legal fight, with federal courts across the country disagreeing on whether it means “and” or “or.”
The appellate panel that upheld a longer sentence in the case called the structure of the provision “perplexing.” The Supreme Court’s decision on the matter could affect thousands of prison sentences each year. The justices are tasked with interpreting the simple conjunction, a task they and their English teachers may enjoy.
The case is an example of the importance of language and the power of words. Even a seemingly innocent word like “and” can have a significant impact on the law. The Supreme Court’s decision on the matter will be closely watched by legal experts and those affected by the 2018 criminal justice overhaul.
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