Lawful - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition lawful

Definition :

Lawful. The natural meaning in a statute of the words 'it shall be lawful' is permissive only, but if the words are used to effectuate a legal right, they are compulsory, Julius v. Bishop of Oxford, (1880) 5 App Cas 182; see Craies, or Maxwell or Hardcastle on Statute Law.