I think it’s also the case that there are no true laws of which we can speak, but instead various interpretations of laws, though hopefully most people have agreeing interpretations, and much of the challenge within the legal profession is figuring out how to interpret laws.
Within common law (the only legal system I’m really familiar with), this issue of interpretation is actually a key aspect of the system. Judges serve the purpose of providing interpretations, and law is operationalized via decisions on cases that set precedents that can inform future interpretations, but ultimately it is the job of a judge to interpret both the law and the facts of the case to come to a decision. The intent of legislators is often considered, but ultimately it’s interpretation by judges that rules, not the rule writers.
My limited understanding is that other legal systems have similar features, but work differently (e.g. in sharia law my understanding is that lawyers do the interpreting rather than the judges).
I think it’s also the case that there are no true laws of which we can speak, but instead various interpretations of laws, though hopefully most people have agreeing interpretations, and much of the challenge within the legal profession is figuring out how to interpret laws.
Within common law (the only legal system I’m really familiar with), this issue of interpretation is actually a key aspect of the system. Judges serve the purpose of providing interpretations, and law is operationalized via decisions on cases that set precedents that can inform future interpretations, but ultimately it is the job of a judge to interpret both the law and the facts of the case to come to a decision. The intent of legislators is often considered, but ultimately it’s interpretation by judges that rules, not the rule writers.
My limited understanding is that other legal systems have similar features, but work differently (e.g. in sharia law my understanding is that lawyers do the interpreting rather than the judges).