Optima Est Legis Interpres Consuetudo

Concept of “Optima Est Legis Interpres Consuetudo”

Traditional meaning of optima est legis interpres consuetudo in English (with some legal use of this latin concept in England and the United States in the XIX Century) [1]: (in Latin) Custom is the best interpreter of laws. Optima est lex quae minimum relinquit arbitrio judicis, optimus judex qui minimum sibi: that law is beat which leaves least to the judge’s discretion; that judge, who leaves least to himself.Optimus interpres rerum usus: usage is the best interpreter of things.

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Notes and References

1. Based on A Concise Law Dictionary of Words, Phrases and Maxims, “Optima Est Legis Interpres Consuetudo”, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911, United States. It is also called the Stimson’s Law dictionary. This term and/or definition may be absolete.

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