textualist

[ teks-choo-uh-list ]

noun

1. a person who adheres closely to a text, especially of the Scriptures.
2. a person who is well versed in the text of the Scriptures.
3. Law. a person who adheres to the doctrine that a legal document or statute should be interpreted by determining the relatively objective ordinary meaning of its words and phrases:

   Justice Hugo Black took a literal reading of the Bill of Rights, leading to his reputation as a textualist.

Word History and Origins

Origin of textualist¹

First recorded in 1620–30; textual + -ist

Example Sentences

"There's a growing number of originalists who are saying so out loud. It’s important to recognize how the Roberts court is not truly textualist or sincerely originalist. But it's abundantly clear it’s driven by conservatism, traditionalism and partisan ideology."

From Salon

If you are a textualist when it comes to statutory interpretation, as all the court’s conservatives claim to be, that should be the end of the matter.

From Seattle Times

According to the textualist position associated with the late Justice Antonin Scalia, legal words mean what they say.

From Seattle Times

The problem for the conservative textualist justices is that they can’t admit they’re looking at purpose.

From Seattle Times

Astonishingly, Kagan referred to herself as a textualist during the bump stock oral argument — this despite the fact that she recently expressed her dismay at what textualism has become in the hands of the conservative majority.

From Seattle Times