Two‑Track Textualism: Judges vs Subjects

Aquinas distinguishes roles: judges, exercising public authority, must pronounce judgment strictly according to the written law, while private individuals 'under a law' may in rare cases act outside the letter (equity). This separates institutional interpretation from personal conscience and executive discretion. — It reframes modern fights over 'equitable' interpretation by locating exceptions in obedience and enforcement, not in judicial rewriting of enacted text.