关于合同解释主体的思考

Subject of Contract Interpretation

主审案件的法院/仲裁庭在裁判文书中解释合同时为解释主体,不主审案件的法院/仲裁庭即使对合同发表看法也不是解释主体。合同当事人对其合同所做"解释"可能有助于主审法院/仲裁庭适当裁判,但即使如此,他们也不是(有权)解释合同的主体。专家证人、代理律师以及学者在主审法院/仲裁个案的仲裁庭的有权解释中是辅助人,不是合同解释的主体。对于法律意见书,正确的立场和态度是:看其是否建立在案件真实的基础之上,看其是否符合法律及法理,若是,它就帮助主审法官、仲裁个案的仲裁员理清了思路,有助于法律的妥当适用;若否,主审法官、仲裁个案的仲裁员就不对其意见加以借鉴或采纳。

The court/arbitral tribunal interpreting the contract in the process of judicial procedure is the subject of contract interpretation. The court/arbitral tribunal not hearing the case is not the subject of interpretation even if it expresses its standpoints on the contract. The parties' interpretation of their contract may help the court/tribunal to make an appropriate judgment, nevertheless, they are not the subject of the interpretation. Expert witnesses, lawyers and scholars are auxiliary persons in judicial process, rather than the subject of contract interpretation. As for the professional legal opinion, it needs to be considered that whether it is based on the fact and whether it conforms to the law and jurisprudence. If so, it may help the judge or the arbitrator to make the decision and help properly applying the law. If not, it should not be referred to in the judgement.