Statutes in Court

“[A] well-researched, thorough description and analysis of the theory and practice of judicial interpretation of statutes. . . . Popkin has written an excellent book that frees jurisprudence from the confines of simplistic assertions about the relationship between politics and law. His analysis is based on a clear understanding of how language actually works, rather than on naive assumptions about judicial protection of fundamental rights or the rigid premises of modern textualism. Readers will learn a great deal from this book about the history, theory, and dynamic practice of statutory interpretation.” - Timothy O. Lenz , Perspectives on Political Science

“William Popkin intrepidly analyzes the topics that his title identifies. The first is enormous, and the second is intellectually complex. . . . [J]udges and commentators on statutory interpretation ought to learn as much as possible about how legislative drafters conduct their extremely difficult art. . . . [T]his is a useful book. . . .” - Jack Stark , Wisconsin Lawyer

“Statutes in Court is a valuable contribution. Its historical overview is unique in the modern literature on statutory interpretation. This is a well-written, clearly substantial piece of work.” - Mark Tushnet, Georgetown University

“Popkin breaks new ground in his historical discussion of English practices, reflecting on this history with the benefit of the more modern insights on legislation and legislatures.” - Nicholas S. Zeppos, Vanderbilt University School of Law