How do the letter and spirit of the law affect culpability decisions? Online Jury Research Update
Violations of the letter of the law can be distinct from violations of the spirit of the law. The letter of the law is a formal boundary between that which is legal and illegal, such as driving over the speed limit or parking in a handicapped parking spot without a special permit. The spirit of the law is the perceived intention of the law which is often shaped by political, moral and social values about how people should act. A person, technically, can be held culpable for any violation of the letter of the law, yet jurors do not always