“Contemporanea Expositio est optima et fortissima in lege” is a Latin maxim that means “Contemporary exposition is the best and strongest in law.” This principle suggests that the interpretation of a law or legal text should be based on the understanding and interpretation of the text at the time it was written, rather than on a later interpretation or understanding.
The principle of contemporanea expositio recognizes that the meaning of legal texts may change over time as language and society evolve, and that the best understanding of the text is often the understanding that was held at the time the text was written. This principle is particularly important in interpreting historical legal texts or statutes.
Example: If a court is interpreting a statute that was written in the 19th century, it may look to contemporary sources, such as legal treatises, dictionaries, and other legal texts from that time period, to help understand the meaning of the text. By doing so, the court can better understand the intent of the legislature at the time the statute was written and avoid applying modern interpretations or understandings that may not be consistent with the original intent.
