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Category: Statutory interpretation
“We must give effect to the specific over the general”
If you’re a litigator, you’ve probably invoked the specific-controls-the-general canon at one time or another. Whether you’ve prevailed with that argument is another question; it …
In statutory construction, be careful assuming the greater includes the lesser
The FDA has the undisputed power to ban a medical device entirely; but if it approves the device, it may not ban certain uses. That …
Katsas v. Randolph on jurisdictional order of operations
Not long ago, two D.C. Circuit decisions reminded us not to lean too hard on jurisdictional truisms (e.g., “jurisdiction can’t be waived”), which, though seemingly …
Don’t lean too hard on jurisdictional truisms
Two recent decisions of the D.C. Circuit provide reminders that even jurisdictional truisms are not absolute. Truism #1: If Congress says something is jurisdictional, it’s …
