west virginia univ hospitals casey argued october decided march petitioner west virginia university hospitals wvuh prevailed trial suit respondent pennsylvania officials medicaid reimbursement rates services provided pennsylvania residents district awarded fees pursuant inter alia gives certain civil rights suits discretion allow prevailing party reasonable attorney fee part costs wvuh award included fees attributable accounting firm three doctors specializing hospital finance hired assist preparation suit testify appeals affirmed merits reversed expert fees disallowing except extent fell within fees witnesses provided held fees services rendered experts civil rights litigation may shifted losing party part reasonable attorney fee pp sections define full extent federal power shift expert fees whether testimonial nontestimonial absent explicit statutory authority contrary crawford fitting gibbons see lightly infer congress repealed sections provision like refer explicitly witness fees see pp statutory usage date enactment regard phrase attorney fees embracing fees experts services pp time enactment judicial usage regard phrase attorney fees including experts fees pp statute contains phrase unambiguous sole function enforce according terms see ron pair enterprises although chronology remarks sponsors bill became suggest viewed response alyeska pipeline service wilderness society text broader narrower regime best evidence congressional purpose statutory text expanded contracted statements individual legislators committees enactment process wvuh argument congress included expert fees thought eaja duty ask congress decided actually considered question profoundly mistakes role respect unambiguous statutory terms see iselin pp scalia delivered opinion rehnquist white kennedy souter joined marshall filed dissenting opinion post stevens filed dissenting opinion marshall blackmun joined post robert adams argued cause petitioner briefs jack stover calvin koons senior deputy attorney general pennsylvania argued cause respondents brief ernest preate attorney general jerome foerster deputy attorney general john knorr iii chief deputy attorney general david tatel norman redlich robert mcduff steven shapiro harvey grossman sidney rosdeitcher antonia hernandez richard larson filed brief lawyers committee civil rights law et al amici curiae urging reversal robert williams douglas mcdowell garen dodge filed brief equal employment advisory council amicus curiae urging affirmance justice scalia delivered opinion case presents question whether fees services rendered experts civil rights litigation may shifted losing party pursuant permits award reasonable attorney fee petitioner west virginia university hospitals wvuh operates hospital morgantown near pennsylvania border hospital often used medicaid recipients living southwestern pennsylvania january pennsylvania department public welfare notified wvuh new medicaid reimbursement schedules services provided pennsylvania residents morgantown hospital administrative proceedings wvuh unsuccessfully objected new reimbursement rates federal statutory federal constitutional grounds exhausting administrative remedies wvuh filed suit federal district named defendants respondents pennsylvania governor robert casey various pennsylvania officials counsel wvuh employed coopers lybrand national accounting firm three doctors specializing hospital finance assist preparation lawsuit testify trial wvuh prevailed trial may district subsequently awarded fees pursuant including fees attributable expert services district found services essential presentation case finding disputed respondents respondents appealed judgment merits fee award appeals third circuit affirmed former reversed expert fees disallowing except extent fell within fees witnesses prescribed wvuh petitioned review disallowance granted certiorari ii title provides judge clerk may tax costs following fees clerk marshal fees reporter part stenographic transcript necessarily obtained use case fees disbursements printing witnesses fees exemplification copies papers necessarily obtained use case docket fees section title compensation appointed experts compensation interpreters salaries fees expenses costs special interpretation services section title testimonial services hospital experts therefore crawford fitting plainly requires prerequisite reimbursement identification explicit statutory authority wvuh argues however expert fees incurred case unrelated expert testimony fees limits apply witnesses attendance trial consequence agree remains applicable limitation crawford fitting said lightly find implied repeal held express limitation upon types costs absent authority may shifted federal courts none categories expenses listed reasonably read include fees services rendered expert employed party nontestimonial advisory capacity question us regard testimonial nontestimonial expert fees whether term attorney fee provides explicit statutory authority required crawford fitting iii record statutory usage demonstrates convincingly attorney fees expert fees regarded separate elements litigation cost provisions like refer attorney fees see civil rights act many others explicitly shift expert witness fees well attorney fees week prior enactment congress passed provisions toxic substances control act provide prevailing party may recover costs suit reasonable fees attorneys expert witnesses emphasis added also congress amended consumer product safety act originally enacted shifted losing party cost suit including reasonable attorney fee see stat amendment congress altered fee shifting provisions present form adding phrase shifting expert witness fees addition attorney fees see stat two significant acts passed contain similar phrasing resource conservation recovery act costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees natural gas pipeline safety act amendments costs suit including reasonable attorney fees reasonable expert witnesses fees congress enacted similarly phrased provisions numerous statutes see endangered species act costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees afterwards see public utility regulatory policies act reasonable attorneys fees expert witness fees reasonable costs incurred preparation advocacy litigant position statutes encompass diverse categories legislation including tax administrative procedure environmental protection consumer protection admiralty navigation utilities regulation significantly civil rights equal access justice act eaja counterpart violation federal rights federal employees fees expenses shifted includes reasonable expenses expert witnesses reasonable attorney fees least statutes different titles code explicitly shift attorney fees expert witness fees laws refer fees nontestimonial expert services less common establish similar usage fees referred addition attorney fees shift intended provision criminal justice act directs reimburse appointed counsel expert fees necessary defense indigent criminal defendants even though immediately preceding provision already directs appointed defense counsel paid designated hourly rate plus expenses reasonably incurred wvuh position must expert fees billed client attorney attorney fees treated part expenses attorney normal usage reimbursable criminal justice act expenses reasonably incurred subsection add nothing recoverable amount heading subsection services counsel emphasis added acknowledges distinction services provided attorney provided attorney client nonlegal expert effect eaja provides fees expenses shifted includes reasonable expenses expert witnesses reasonable cost study analysis engineering report test project found necessary preparation party case reasonable attorney fees emphasis added reasonable cost study analysis another way describing nontestimonial expert services common usage already included attorney fees significant highly detailed part statute becomes redundant administrative procedure act added tax equity fiscal responsibility act contain similar language also reflecting usage two railroad regulation statutes regional rail reorganization act costs expenses including reasonable fees accountants experts attorneys actually incurred railroad revitalization regulatory reform act costs expenses including fees accountants experts attorneys actually reasonably incurred think statutory usage shows beyond question attorney fees expert fees distinct items expense wvuh argues one includes dozens statutes referring two separately become inexplicable exercise redundancy iv wvuh argues least judicial usage phrase attorney fees included fees experts support proposition relies upon two historical assertions first courts exercising traditional equitable discretion shifting attorney fees taxed element fees expenses related expert services second courts shifting attorney fees pursuant statutes identical phrasing allowed recovery expert fees disagree assertions judicial background congress enacted mirrored statutory background expert fees regarded subset attorney fees distinct category litigation expense certainly true prior federal courts shifted expert fees losing parties pursuant various equitable doctrines sometimes conjunction attorney fees shift element attorney fees typical courts mode analysis though necessarily results fey walston case brought federal securities laws plaintiff awarded various expenses included costs awarded district sum plaintiff expert witness expenses accountant amount attorneys fees treated items separately services accountant illustrator testify trial costs fully shifted discretion district expert witness fees also shifted limited attorney fees costs shifted case fit traditional equitable doctrines awarding fees id see also electric power light appellant applied allowance counsel fees expenses also fee expert accountant permitted part attorney fee disallowed expert witness fee rev grounds kiefel las vegas hacienda itemizing attorney fee expert witness fee separately allowing part former latter permitted burgess williamson applying alabama law shift attorney fee expert witness fee henning lake charles harbor terminal district appeal remand applying louisiana law shift expert fees attorney fee coughenour campbell barge line wd plaintiffs claim counsel fees denied defendant acted good faith thus equitable shifting unavailable plaintiff claim costs medical expert witnesses deemed proper insofar necessary establishing claim citations omitted even courts holdings treated attorney fees expert fees granted denied analysis discussed separate categories expense see wolf frank reimbursing plaintiffs costs attorney fees expert witness fees supported well established equitable principles emphasis added humble oil refining appellant argues district erred awarding costs including attorneys fees expert witness fees humble bebchick pub util app also view reasonable attorneys fees appellants reasonable expert witness fees appropriate litigation expenses paid appellee lipscomb wise nd tex separate analyses finding attorney fees expert witness fees barred found support proposition common law courts shifted expert fees element attorney fees arguably greater significance courts treatment attorney fees versus expert fees common law treatment expenses statutes containing provisions similar hospital contends cases courts shifted expert fees well statutorily authorized attorney fees thus must thought latter included former find however practice least overwhelming majority cases otherwise prior leading statute clayton act stat amended shifting cost suit including reasonable attorney fee four circuits six circuits one includes summary affirmances district judgments held provision permit shift expert witness fees union carbide carbon nisley accountant fees twentieth century fox film goldwyn accounting fees advance business systems supply scm md accountant fees aff farmington dowel products forster mfg expert witness fees aff trans world airlines hughes expert fees rev grounds ott speedwriting publishing expert witness fees see also brookside theater twentieth film wd mo expert witness fees held otherwise also instructive practice federal patent laws provided exceptional cases may award reasonable attorney fees prevailing party every consider matter thought provision conveyed authority shift expert fees specialty equipment machinery zell motor car congress dealt subject costs patent cases authorized taxation reasonable attorney fees without making provision respect fees expert witnesses must presumably intended taxed accord chromalloy american alloy surfaces del esco uspq md scaramucci universal mfg wd la prastaker beech aircraft del wvuh contends position supported tasby estes nd tex davis county los angeles fepc cd cal even cases constituted solid support proposition advanced hospital hardly sufficient overcome weight authority cited case find neither opinion clear example contrary usage without entering detailed discussion suffices say davis expert fee award event uncontested opinion cite statute basis belief expert fee shifted considers expert fees section separate dealing attorney fees given state law ninth circuit district citation fepc least one case avowedly equitable discretion case see naacp allen md likely district thought shifting fee authorized general equitable powers federal rule tasby case unquestionably authorized shift expert witness fees pursuant statute basis decision however understanding statutory term attorney fees rather belief quite erroneous earlier opinion bradley richmond school adopted interpretation thus wvuh cited single case found none clear view even likely understood statutory term attorney fees include expert fees sum conclude time provision enacted neither statutory judicial usage regarded phrase attorney fees embracing fees experts services wvuh suggests distinctive meaning attorney fees adopted respect statute meant overrule decision alyeska pipeline service wilderness society mentioned prior many courts awarded expert fees attorney fees certain circumstances pursuant equitable discretion alyeska held discretion extend beyond exceptional circumstances long recognized common law specifically rejected private attorney general doctrine recently created lower federal courts see la raza unida volpe nd cal allowed equitable plaintiffs certain types civil rights litigation wvuh argues intended restore regime since expert fees shifted shifted chronology remarks sponsors bill became suggest least members congress viewed response alyeska see pp considerable step however proposition conclusion hospital us draw namely read reversal alyeska respects plain language unanimously construed courts broader narrower regime alyeska civil rights plaintiffs recover fees pursuant private attorney general doctrine private enforcement necessary defend important rights benefiting large numbers people cost barriers might otherwise preclude private suits la raza unida section contains similar limitation present suit question propriety shifting wvuh attorney fees even though highly doubtful awarded equitable theories respects however broad former regime limited example violations specified civil rights statutes means reversed outcome alyeska involved civil rights statute national environmental policy act et seq since clear many respects meant return us precisely regime objective achieving return reason depart normal import text wvuh argues congressional purpose enacting must prevail ordinary meaning statutory terms quotes example house committee report effect judicial remedy must full complete sess senate committee report effect itizens must opportunity recover costs vindicate civil rights supra observed however purpose statute includes sets change also resolves leave alone see rodriguez best evidence purpose statutory text adopted houses congress submitted president contains phrase unambiguous clearly accepted meaning legislative judicial practice permit expanded contracted statements individual legislators committees course enactment process see ron pair enterprises statute language plain sole function enforce according terms quoting caminetti congress easily shifted attorney fees expert witness fees reasonable litigation expenses contemporaneous statutes chose instead enact restrictive language bound restriction wvuh asserts previously guided broad remedial purposes rather text context resolving analogous issue missouri jenkins concluded permitted separately billed paralegal law clerk time charged losing party trouble argument jenkins involve analogous issue insofar relevant considerations concerned issue wvuh contends whether permit perception policy statute overcome plain language remotely plain jenkins phrase attorney fee include charges law clerk paralegal services services like services secretaries messengers librarians janitors others whose labor contributes work product traditionally included calculation lawyers hourly rates recently arisen increasingly widespread custom separately billing services quoting ramos lamm contrast never knowledge practice including cost expert services within attorneys hourly rates also record jenkins lengthy record statutory usage recognizes distinction charges issue attorney fees know single statute shifts clerk paralegal fees separately even eaja comprehensively define assessable litigation costs make separate mention clerks paralegals words jenkins involved respect term attorney fees giving losing argument benefit doubt genuinely ambiguous resolved ambiguity invoking policy supersedes text statute concluding charges sort traditionally included attorney fees separate billing make difference term application expert fees ambiguous means analysis employed jenkins lead conclusion since fees traditionally included within attorney hourly rate attorney fees wvuh last contention even congress plainly include expert fees provisions done thought statutes explicitly shifted expert fees dealt environmental litigation necessity expert advice readily apparent congress later enacted eaja federal counterpart explicitly included expert fees thus argument runs congress simply forgot duty ask decided actually considered question see friedrich city chicago awarding expert fees complete statute reading bring end legislators specified thought clearly argument profoundly mistakes role statutory term presented us first time ambiguous construe contain permissible meaning fits logically comfortably body previously subsequently enacted law see sutherland statutory construction horack ed precise accommodative meaning lawmakers must mind earlier congress know later congress enact role make sense rather nonsense corpus juris meaning term prevents accommodation function eliminate clearly expressed inconsistency policy treat alike subjects different congresses chosen treat differently facile attribution congressional forgetfulness justify usurpation issue contradictory disposition within enactment merely difference parsimonious policy earlier enactment generous policy later one basis saying earlier congress forgot saying earlier congress felt differently circumstances attribution forgetfulness rests reality upon judge assessment later statute contains better disposition judges prescribe thus reject last argument reason justice brandeis writing rejected similar though less explicit argument statute language plain unambiguous government asks construction statute effect enlargement omitted presumably inadvertence may included within scope supply omissions transcends judicial function iselin judgment appeals affirmed ordered footnotes section since amended increase allowable per diem see judicial improvements act justice stevens suggests expert fees requested might part costs allowed even part attorney fee aware authority support assertion term costs different broader meaning statutes cost statutes apply ordinary litigation post crawford fitting held word costs read harmony word costs see think true word costs likewise see nothing support justice stevens speculation parties viewed certain disbursements hospital attorneys costs within meaning statute rather likely disbursements billed directly client thought subsumed within phrase attorney fee see northcross bd ed memphis city schools reasonable expenses incurred attorney included attorney fee award addition provisions discussed text see administrative procedure act added reasonable expenses expert witnesses reasonable attorney agent fees unfair advertising act added reasonable attorneys fees expert witness fees costs participating rulemaking proceeding petroleum marketing practices act reasonable attorney expert witness fees national historic preservation act amendments attorneys fees expert witness fees costs participating action federal power act added reasonable attorney fees expert witness fees costs intervening participating proceeding commission tax equity fiscal responsibility act reasonable expenses expert witnesses reasonable fees paid services attorneys surface mining control act enacted costs litigation including attorney expert witness fees deep seabed hard mineral resources act enacted oil gas royalty management act costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees longshoremen harbor workers compensation act amendments cases attorney fee awarded may assessed costs fees mileage necessary witnesses federal water pollution control act amendments amendment costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees oil pollution act marine protection research sanctuaries act deepwater port act act prevent pollution ships enacted safe drinking water act enacted national childhood vaccine injury act noise control act energy reorganization act energy policy conservation act enacted clean air amendments amendments costs expenses including attorneys expert witness fees reasonably incurred powerplant industrial fuel use act costs litigation including reasonable attorney expert witness fees ocean thermal energy conversion act comprehensive environmental response compensation liability act added emergency planning community act outer continental shelf lands act amendments hazardous liquid pipeline safety act costs suit including reasonable attorney fees reasonable expert witnesses fees wvuh cites house conference committee report statute passed stating conferees intend term attorneys fees part costs include reasonable expenses fees expert witnesses reasonable costs test evaluation found necessary preparation case discussing handicapped children protection act view undercuts rather supports wvuh position specification quite unnecessary ordinary meaning term included elements statement apparent effort depart ordinary meaning define term art hospital also cites fairley patterson norris green nd fairley remanding reconsideration fee award explicitly equivocal whether costs ones normally assessable awardable statute question voting rights act whose provision parallels rather meet harder discretionary standards applicable award fees pursuant equitable discretion event fairley consider expert witnesses explicitly indication necessarily included expert fees within undefined category costs norris case awarded fees pursuant parallel since authorizes shifting fees counsel expenses necessarily paid incurred emphasis added indication opinion thought expert fees part former rather latter discussed separately attorney fees wvuh least asks us guess preferences enacting congress justice stevens apparently believes role guess desires present congress congresses yet time tell says whether literal reading correctly interpreted congress post implication today holding proved wrong congress amends law conform dissent think congress look evolving session session expressed fixed particular enactment otherwise speak interpreting law intuiting predicting role say law hitherto enacted forecast law amended justice marshall dissenting justice stevens demonstrates uses implements literalism wound rather minister congressional intent case dangerous usurpation congressional power statute involved troubling special reasons however statute issue clearly designed give access federal courts persons groups attempting vindicate vital civil rights district judge ably put point analogous context issue much simple question much plaintiff attorneys receive attorney fees issue continued full vigorous commitment nation lofty yet unfulfilled agenda make promises land available citizens without regard race sex impermissible characteristic least two ways undermine commitment first open direct repeal nation antidiscrimination laws second indirect reason somewhat insidious deny victims discrimination means redress creating economic market attorneys afford represent take cases hidle geneva county bd md awarding attorney fees expenses title vii civil rights act since enactment statute wills careful draftsmen authorized executors pay debts decedent including fees expenses attorney estate although omission express authorization might indicate testator thought unnecessary overlooked point omission surely indicate deliberate decision testator forbid compensation attorney early congress began focus importance public interest litigation since time enacted numerous statutes many statutes majority cites length see ante congress expressly authorized recovery expert witness fees part costs litigation question case whether notwithstanding omission express authorization congress intended authorize recovery provided reasonable attorney fee part costs view omission express authorization preclude compensation estate attorney omission express authorization expert witness fees provision preclude award expert witness fees look way interpreted text statute past well statute legislative history resolve question us rather looking text many statutes majority cites congress expressly recognized need compensating expert witnesses either broad view costs typically assumed context broad view reasonable attorney fee articulated expert witness fees proper component award interpreting words first time evaluated context courts already created term costs different broader meaning statutes cost statutes apply ordinary litigation cost bill case illustrates point leaving aside question expert witness fees prevailing party sought reimbursement disbursements see app pet cert plainly recoverable costs expenses including items travel telephone calls allowed district even questioned respondent expenses retained lawyer ordinarily bill client accordingly considered proper costs case kind broad construction typically given costs context highlighted chief justice contrasting view missouri jenkins argued paralegal law clerk fees even awarded costs one issues jenkins rate services law clerks paralegals compensated state contended actual cost rather market value govern however even question propriety reimbursing prevailing party work nonlawyers chief justice lone dissent reasoning endorsed advanced purely literal interpretation statute wrote also disagree state suggestion law clerk paralegal expenses incurred prevailing party recoverable market rates attorney fees nonetheless recoverable actual cost statute language expands traditional definition costs include reasonable attorney fee fairly read authorize recovery expenses actually incurred prevailing party course litigation absent specific statutory authorization recovery expenses prevailing party remains subject limitations cost recovery imposed federal rule civil procedure govern taxation costs federal litigation statute applicable section gives district discretion tax certain types costs losing party federal litigation statute specifically enumerates six categories expenses may taxed costs fees clerk marshal fees reporter printing fees witness fees copying fees certain docket fees fees experts interpreters held list exclusive crawford fitting gibbons since none categories possibly construed include fees law clerks paralegals also hold reimbursement expenses may separately awarded actual cost fee must take account work attorneys also secretaries messengers librarians janitors others whose labor contributes work product attorney bills client must also take account expenses profit parties suggested reason work paralegals similarly compensated think thus take starting point proposition reasonable attorney fee provided statute compensate work paralegals well attorneys ibid reasoning applies equally forms specialized litigation support trial lawyer needs client customarily pays either directly indirectly although reliance paralegals recent development use traditional expert witnesses paralegals expert witnesses perform important tasks save lawyers time enhance quality work product case undisputed district correctly found expert witnesses essential necessary successful prosecution plaintiff case data analysis played pivotal role attorney trial preparation attorneys attempted perform tasks experts performed obviously taken far longer experts entire case far costly parties judge posner observed comparable case time spent expert substitute lawyer time paralegal time prohibited deterred cost hiring expert lawyer attempt educate expert area expertise forbid shifting expert fee encourage underspecialization inefficient trial preparation forbid shifting cost paralegals encourage lawyers paralegals work thus basis distinguishing jenkins present case far time spent experts educating plaintiffs lawyer concerned friedrich chicago ii senate report civil rights attorneys fees awards act explained purpose proposed amendment remedy anomalous gaps civil rights laws created recent decision alyeska pipeline service wilderness society achieve consistency civil rights laws code cong senate committee judiciary wanted level playingfield private citizens might little money still serve private attorneys general afford bring actions even state local bodies enforce civil rights laws committee acknowledged private citizens able assert civil rights violate nation fundamental laws proceed impunity citizens must opportunity recover costs vindicate rights emphasis added according committee bill create startling new remedy simply provide technical requirements requested alyeska courts continue practice awarding attorneys fees going years prior may decision underscore intention return courts practice shifting fees civil rights cases senate committee report cited approval several cases fees shifted also cases contained legal fees hearings subcommittee representation citizen interests senate committee judiciary pt pp hereinafter senate hearings see cases collected senate hearings included many courts permitted shifting costs including expert witness fees time committee referred cases though several later reversed used make point prior alyeska courts awarded attorney fees costs including expert witness fees civil rights cases order encourage private citizens bring suits regime courts award expert witness fees along attorney fees senate committee intended return passage amendment house report expressed concerns similar raised senate report noted effective enforcement federal civil rights statutes depends largely efforts private citizens house bill designed give persons effective access judicial process house committee judiciary concluded civil rights litigants suffering severe hardships alyeska decision case devastating impact created compelling need provision civil rights context according reports record house senate subcommittee hearings consisting testimony written submissions public officials scholars practicing attorneys private citizens questions legislators makes clear committees concerned preserving access courts encouraging public interest litigation fair say throughout course hearings recurring theme desire return practice courts shift fees including expert witness fees make acted private attorneys general whole thus encouraging enforcement civil rights laws case us today precisely type public interest litigation congress intended encourage amending provide reasonable attorney fee part costs petitioner tertiary medical center west virginia near pennsylvania border provides services large number medicaid recipients throughout pennsylvania january pennsylvania department public welfare notified petitioner new medicaid payment rates pennsylvania medicaid recipients petitioner believed minimum standards reimbursement specified social security act petitioner successfully challenged adequacy state payment system determination today petitioner must assume cost expert witness fees war congressional purpose making prevailing party whole said hensley eckerhart petitioner recovery fully compensatory expressed jenkins petitioner recovery comparable traditional attorneys compensated client iii recent years vacillated purely literal approach task statutory interpretation approach seeks guidance historical context legislative history prior cases identifying purpose motivated legislation thus example christiansburg garment eeoc rejected mechanical construction provision title vii civil rights act prevailing defendant urged upon us although text statute drew distinction different kinds prevailing parties held awards prevailing plaintiffs governed liberal standard awards prevailing defendants holding rested entirely evaluation relevant congressional policy found support within four corners statutory text nevertheless holding unanimous best knowledge evoked adverse criticism response congress occasions however put thick grammarian spectacles ignored available evidence congressional purpose teaching prior cases construing statute congressional response dramatically different coincidence literal reading title vii led conclusion disparate treatment pregnant nonpregnant persons discrimination basis sex see general electric gilbert repudiated congress literal reading continuous physical presence requirement immigration nationality act led view statute permit even temporary inadvertent absences country see ins phinpathya rebuffed congress literal reading word program title ix education amendments led gratuitous limit scope antidiscrimination provisions title ix see grove city college bell rejected congress refusal accept teaching earlier decisions wards cove packing atonio reformulating order proof weight parties burdens cases patterson mclean credit union limiting scope making enforcement contracts overwhelmingly rejected congress refusal accept widely held view lower courts scope fraud see mcnally limiting mail fraud protection property quickly corrected congress domain statutory interpretation congress master obviously power correct mistakes country disservice needlessly ignore persuasive evidence congress actual purpose require take time revisit matter restate purpose precise english whenever work product suffers omission inadvertent error judge learned hand explained statutes likely imprecise legislators done write certain words mean apply generally situations kind apply literally may either pervert plainly general meaning leave undisposed every reason suppose meant provide thus enough judge use dictionary might come result every sensible man recognize quite opposite really intended contradict leave unfulfilled plain purpose hand far judge free rendering decision spirit liberty dilliard ed respectfully dissent hen viii ch view expressed past follow justice cardozo advice judge lay course bricks secure foundation courses laid others gone cardozo nature judicial process see see also quoted pertinent part ante app pet cert app expert witnesses played pivotal role nontestimonial rather simply testimonial capacity see pet cert app alyeska pipeline service wilderness society held courts free fashion new exceptions american rule according side assumed cost attorney fees reasoned judiciary role invade legislature province redistributing litigation costs inappropriate judiciary without legislative guidance reallocate burdens litigation see beens erdahl bradley school board richmond ed fees expert witnesses testimony likewise allowed expense suit difficult imagine necessary item proof source assistance considered opinion educational expert rev vacated la raza unida volpe nd reprinted senate hearings pt pp expert witness fees allowed experts testimony helpful pyramid lake paiute tribe indians morton dc plaintiff experts played vital role resolution case work testimony going heart matter accordingly seems entirely appropriate award fees scheduled total amount rev app cert denied frequently expressed concern need undo damage public interest litigation caused alyeska see awarding attorneys fees hearings subcommittee courts civil liberties administration justice house committee judiciary pp hereinafter house hearings many testified expressed view attorneys needed provisions afford work public interest litigation see see also senate hearings pts pp private citizens needed provisions made whole see house hearings pp see also example private citizen brought government later prevailed still made whole bear costs attorney fees senate hearings also examined average citizen lack access legal system see senate hearings pts pp addressing question whether coal miners receiving adequate legal coverage addressing question whether veterans denied legal assistance contingent fee pt indians access lawyers pt average citizen afford attorney tertiary hospital provides level medical services generally complex provided community hospitals brief petitioner examples cases eschewed literal approach include steelworkers weber johnson transportation agency santa clara county although dissenters better textual argument cases urged read words statute literally cases opted reading took account congressional purpose historical context see steelworkers weber rejected literal construction held statute must read background legislative history title vii historical context act arose johnson transportation agency legality employer affirmative action plan assessed according criteria announced weber neither decision prompted adverse congressional response although argued congressional inaction seen endorsement interpretations see johnson transportation agency scalia dissenting patterson mclean credit union charge answered observation congress displeased interpretation hesitated amend statute tell us surely appropriate find probative value radically different congressional reactions interpretations johnson transportation agency see patterson mclean credit union brennan concurring judgment part dissenting part prior interpretation congressional intent plausible often taken congress subsequent inaction probative varying degrees depending upon circumstances acquiescence since congress opportunity albeit brief correct broad reading attorney fees jenkins thought misapprehended purpose reason change approach provision majority today see pregnancy discrimination act stat overturning general electric gilbert immigration reform control act sec stat alien shall considered failed maintain continuous physical presence absence brief casual innocent meaningfully interrupt continuous physical presence see grove city college bell stevens concurring part concurring result refrain deciding issue dispute see civil rights restoration act stat congress clear expressing need subsequent legislation congress finds certain aspects recent decisions opinions unduly narrowed cast doubt upon broad application title ix education amendments legislative action necessary restore prior consistent longstanding executive branch interpretation broad application laws previously administered note see civil rights act congress blunt purposes purposes act respond recent decisions restoring civil rights protections dramatically limited decisions strengthen existing protections remedies available federal civil rights laws provide effective deterrence adequate compensation victims discrimination ibid see stat term scheme artifice defraud includes scheme artifice deprive another intangible right honest services smith robinson brennan dissenting seventy years ago justice cardozo warned dangers literal reading whether precedents statutes judges notion duty match colors case hand colors many sample cases spread upon desk sample nearest shade supplies applicable rule course system living law evolved process judge high worthy office views function place narrowly calling little intellectual interest man best card index cases also wisest judge colors match references index fail decisive precedent serious business judge begins cardozo nature judicial process