Lesson 5: General Legal Regimes of Sierra Leone: Statutory Interpretation

Big Picture — All Rules Covered You have now done:

Literal rule → plain meaning Golden Rule → avoids absurdity Mischief Rule → fix the problem Ejusdem Generis → same class rule These are the core statutory interpretation rules.

The lecturer is now explaining another rule of statutory interpretation called:

• Noscitur a Sociis (The “Company it Keeps” Rule)

Latin meaning:

A word is known by the company it keeps This means: When a word is unclear, you look at the surrounding words to understand its meaning.

Meaning in Simple Terms If a word appears in a list, its meaning is influenced by the words around it.

You do not interpret the word alone — you interpret it with its neighbors.

Example from your lecturer "On a road, street, lane, or any other highway"

Question: What does "any other highway" mean?

Using Noscitur a Sociis:

Road Street Lane These are: Public travel paths So: "Any other highway" = similar type of roadway Therefore, a private compound Football field Farm land Footpath maybe (if similar)

Another Simple Example "Books, newspapers, magazines, and other documents"

What do "documents" mean?

Using Noscitur a Sociis: All listed items are reading materials So: Passport Birth certificate Journal article Pamphlet Why Courts Use Noscitur a Sociis To:

• Clarify vague words Avoid broad interpretation Respect context Maintain consistency Case Example Inland Revenue Commissioners v Frere (1965)
• Phrase: "Interest, annuities, or other annual interest"
• Court: "Other annual interest" must be interpreted based on surrounding words.

Difference Between the Three Similar Rules Students confuse these a lot:

• Ejusdem Generis General words follow specific words → limited to the same class "dogs, cats, and other animals"

→ domestic animals only Noscitur a Sociis Meaning of word known by surrounding words "Road, Street, Lane, or Other Highway"

→ similar type of road Literal Rule It's just plain meaning No context used Easy Memory Trick Ejusdem Generis → Same class Noscitur a Sociis → Same company Mischief Rule → Same purpose The lecturer's key question The accident occurs at "The Globe"

Law: "Road, street, lane, or any other highway"

Ask: Is "The Globe" like:

• road?
• street?
• lane?

If YES → law applies If NO → law does not apply That is Noscitur a Sociis ALL major statutory interpretation rules:

Literal rule Golden rule Mischief rule Ejusdem generis Noscitur a sociis Your lecturer covered three important ideas here:

• Noscitur a Sociis example (factory case)
• How do courts find Parliament’s intention (extrinsic aids)
• Order of applying rules — start with literal rule Let me break it down clearly

1. Factory Example (Noscitur a Sociis Applied)

Law says the factory must keep safe:

• "floor, steps, gangway, passage… free from obstruction"
• Worker injured in store room.
• Question: Can he sue? Is the store room included?
• Use Noscitur a Sociis (company it keeps)

Listed items:

floor steps gangway passage These are: areas used for movement/access Store room: storage area, not movement area Conclusion: Store room not included Workers may not rely on that section Because meaning is determined by associated words.

2. How Courts Discover Parliament's Intention The lecturer asked: How do courts know what Parliament meant?

Courts use intrinsic and Extrinsic Aids A. Intrinsic Aids (Inside the Act)

Things inside the statue:

• Long title Short title Preamble Interpretation section Headings Marginal notes Schedule Proviso These help interpret meaning.
• Example: "An Act to regulate factory safety"
• This shows intention → safety B. Extrinsic Aids (Outside the Act)

Things outside the statute:

• Parliamentary debates (Hansard)

Law Reform Commission reports Committee reports Previous law Dictionaries International conventions Explanatory memorandum The lecturer mentioned: "Record keeping in parliament"

That is Hansard Used to see what Parliament intended.

3. Very Important The rules do NOT operate in isolation You start with the Literal Rule first Correct order:

Step 1 — Literal Rule If meaning clear → STOP Step 2 — Golden Rule If absurd → modify Step 3 — Mischief Rule Look at problem law fixes Step 4 — Other rules Ejusdem generis Noscitur a sociis Only used when needed.

Example "dogs, cats and other animals"

Literal rule: Animals include lion But that is too wide So apply: Ejusdem generis → domestic animals Lecturer's Key Point You DO NOT jump to:

Mischief rule Golden rule Noscitur You must:

Start → Literal rule If unclear → moves to others End of lecture:

• Authority Errors are inevitable Academic legal Research Notes...