Legal Definitions - retrospective statute

Definition: A retrospective statute is a law that applies to events that occurred before the law was passed. It is also known as a retrospective law or retroactive law.

Example: Let's say a new law is passed that makes it illegal to own a certain type of gun. If the law is retrospective, it means that people who owned that type of gun before the law was passed could be punished for owning it, even though it was legal at the time.

Explanation: The example illustrates how a retrospective statute can be unfair because people are being punished for something that was legal when they did it. It can also create confusion and uncertainty because people may not know if their past actions are now illegal.