Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice

Maria Savel'eva

VAK Russia 5.1.1 UDC 340.1

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STYLES OF INTERPRETATION AND A. ROSS’S THEORY OF JUDICIAL METHOD IN THE CONTEXT OF RUSSIAN COURT PRACTICE Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice

АА Аа

Published in Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia · Volume 2026, Issue 1 · Pages 22–35 · Rubric: Theoretical and historical legal sciences

Received: 09.11.2025 Accepted: 19.03.2026 Published: 29.03.2026 Language of publication: RUS

Authors

Maria Savel'eva

ORCID

Maria Savel'eva

Academic degree: candidate of jurisprudence sciences

Science rang: docent

Saint Petersburg University of the MIA of Russia Russian Federation · Saint Petersburg

ORCID

ABSTRACT

Introduction. The theory of law interpretation is complex and multidimensional. Some believe that legal reasoning is more of an art than a science, while remaining central to enforcement and legal practice. Not limited only to dealing with legal texts, it includes the possibility of interpretation, understanding the meaning of texts through formal legal analysis, and the possibility of going beyond positive law when necessary. Methods. The methodological basis of the research combines general scientific and specific scientific methods, providing theoretical and empirical depth to the analysis of judicial interpretation styles and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method, as well as the possibilities for their application in the Russian judicial system. Results. The theoretical and empirical analysis provided a number of results revealing the specifics of judicial interpretation in Russia and the degree of applicability of A. Ross's judicial method in the modern Russian legal system. The author concludes that A. Ross’s doctrine of general judicial method is not an adequate descriptive tool for identifying actual judicial interpretation in Russia. The prospects for the further development of Russian judicial methodology consist in improving Russia’s own legal dogmatics, contributing to the theoretical conceptualisation and optimisation of the existing judicial procedure algorithm.

KEYWORDS

styles of judicial interpretation, legal styles, judicial method, Alf Ross, judicial discretion, Russian judicial practice, formal-dogmatic approach, theory of law, interpretation of law, judicial argumentation, judicial interpretation

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Savel'eva M. V. Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice // Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia. 2025. no. 1. pp. 22-35. URL: https://russianjournaldeviantbehavior.ru/en/nauka/publications/article/6a9c15fe32807fdbab86fe17/styles-of-interpretation-and-a-ross-s-theory-of-judicial-method-in-the-context-of-russian-court-practice/view. (Date of access 01.11.2026).

MLA

Maria Savel'eva. "Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice." Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 2026.1 (2025): 22-35. URL: https://russianjournaldeviantbehavior.ru/en/nauka/publications/article/6a9c15fe32807fdbab86fe17/styles-of-interpretation-and-a-ross-s-theory-of-judicial-method-in-the-context-of-russian-court-practice/view.

APA

Savel'eva M. V. (2025). Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice. Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, 2026(1), 22-35. URL: https://russianjournaldeviantbehavior.ru/en/nauka/publications/article/6a9c15fe32807fdbab86fe17/styles-of-interpretation-and-a-ross-s-theory-of-judicial-method-in-the-context-of-russian-court-practice/view

Chicago

Maria Savel'eva. "Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice." Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia 2026, no. 1 (2025): 22-35. URL: https://russianjournaldeviantbehavior.ru/en/nauka/publications/article/6a9c15fe32807fdbab86fe17/styles-of-interpretation-and-a-ross-s-theory-of-judicial-method-in-the-context-of-russian-court-practice/view.

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{{cite journal | author = Savel'eva M. V. | title = Styles of interpretation and A. Ross’s theory of judicial method in the context of Russian court practice | journal = Vestnik of the St. Petersburg University of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia | year = 2025 | volume = 2026 | issue = 1 | pages = 22-35 | url = https://russianjournaldeviantbehavior.ru/en/nauka/publications/article/6a9c15fe32807fdbab86fe17/styles-of-interpretation-and-a-ross-s-theory-of-judicial-method-in-the-context-of-russian-court-practice/view }}

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