You have found the website for The Interpretation Game: How Judges and Lawyers Make the Law (Carolina Academic Press 2008). I'll post supplements and updates to the text here, and have started it off with an extra chapter on "How International Law Gets Its Meaning: The Bush Administration Torture Memos," free for anyone to download. I hope you will contribute comments to the Blog on hot issues of legal interpretation, where I particularly invite the views of professors, students, lawyers, judges, journalists and concerned citizens.

About the Book

The Interpretation Game questions traditional methods of legal interpretation and challenges the position that objective interpretation of law is possible. Legal interpretation, the author avers, is unavoidably subjective. Benson suggests that "plain meaning," "purpose." "intent," "structure," "strict construction," "precedent." and other legal mysticisms are merely pieces manipulated in a game. Those interested in legal process, legal writing, constitutional law, statutory interpretation, and jurisprudence will find his arguments provocative and engaging. Whether one is a lawyer, judge, journalist, or informed citizen, this look at the on-going battle about whether judges and lawyers "find the law" or "make the law" will be a stimulating read.