What aspect of legislation do courts focus on to avoid misinterpretation?

The focus on expressed language in legislation is crucial for courts in order to interpret laws accurately and avoid misinterpretation. Expressed language refers to the clear, specific words and phrases used in legislative texts. Courts take this text at face value, prioritizing the intent communicated directly through the wording of the law. By concentrating on the explicit terms used, courts aim to uphold the integrity of the law as it was written and ensure that interpretations do not stray from the original intent of the lawmakers.

While public perception, judicial discretion, and immediate context can play roles in understanding legislation, they are not the primary focuses for avoiding misinterpretation. Public perception may inform how laws are viewed socially but does not guide legal interpretation in a definitive way. Judicial discretion allows judges leeway in decision-making but must still rely on the expressed language as the foundation of their rulings. Immediate context, while helpful for clarifying certain terms, is secondary to the explicit wording itself. Thus, relying on the expressed language provides a more solid basis for legal interpretation, minimizing ambiguity and aligning judicial decisions with legislative intent.