California, United States of America
The following excerpt is from People v. Robinson, H037743, H038460 (Cal. App. 2013):
"[I]n reviewing the text of a statute, [courts] must follow the fundamental rule of statutory construction that requires every part of a statute be presumed to have some effect and not be treated as meaningless unless absolutely necessary. 'Significance should be given, if possible, to every word of an act. [Citation.] Conversely, a construction that renders a word surplusage should be avoided. [Citations.]' [Citations.]" (People v. Arias (2008) 45 Cal.4th 169, 180.) In addition, "[w]hen a statute is capable of more than one construction, ' "[w]e must . . . give the provision a reasonable and commonsense interpretation consistent with the apparent purpose and intention of the
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lawmakers, practical rather than technical in nature, which upon application will result in wise policy rather than mischief or absurdity." ' [Citations.]" (In re Reeves (2005) 35 Cal.4th 765, 771, fn. 9.) Finally, "under the traditional 'rule of lenity,' language in a penal statute that truly is susceptible of more than one reasonable construction in meaning or application ordinarily is construed in the manner that is more favorable to the defendant. [Citation.]" (People v. Canty (2004) 32 Cal.4th 1266, 1277.)
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