Commonsense Construction Rule

Courts must reject statute interpretations that produce absurd, illogical, or unworkable results under commonsense construction rule

The commonsense construction rule requires courts to presume legislators intended common sense when interpreting statutes. Courts must avoid constructions producing absurd results, meaning outcomes that are contrary to reason, unworkable, impracticable, inconvenient, anomalous, illogical, futile, artificial, or create disproportionate counter-mischief. When considering opposing interpretations, courts should reject constructions creating anomalies or irrational results, particularly where benefits or detriments are inconsistently applied in similar cases. Where multiple constructions involve anomalies, courts must balance effects and determine which creates the greater anomaly, though clearly intended anomalies must be given effect.