Thomas R. Lee
Article
Judging Ordinary Meaning
When we speak of ordinary meaning we are asking an empirical question—about the sense of a word or phrase that is most likely implicated in a given linguistic context. Linguists have developed computer-aided means of answering such questions. This Article proposes to import those methods into statutory interpretation.
Feb 22, 2018
Essay
Corpus Linguistics & Original Public Meaning: A New Tool To Make Originalism More Empirical
Originalism has been the predominant interpretive methodology for constitutional meaning in American history: it is the methodology that has been with us since the Constitution’s birth. With its rebirth in the latter part of the twentieth century and its theoretical evolution from original intent to original public meaning, originalism has been working itself pure—almost.
May 18, 2016