A Review of Justice Scalia's Latest Book

Justice Scalia notes in his latest book, "Reading the Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts," that “the main controversy among judges is not conservative vs. liberal. The main controversy is how to approach the application of legal text.” Jess Bravin of the Wall Street Journal briefly reviews Scalia’s latest book and points out that:

"Justice Scalia long has championed an approach, called originalism or textualism, which seeks to apply the text of a statute or constitutional provision according to its meaning at the time of adoption.

"Co-written with the lexicographer Bryan A. Garner, ‘Reading Law’ presents 57 ‘sound principles of interpretation,’ or canons, for doing so. Reflecting Justice Scalia's occasionally pugnacious style, it also identifies conflicting principles, concluding, as the book puts it, with ‘13 falsities exposed.’ "