Which materials may some courts give weight to?

Some courts may give weight to statements made during debates in Congress as they can provide insight into the legislative intent behind statutes. This context can be significant in understanding how to interpret laws, especially if the statute is ambiguous or if there is a dispute about its meaning. Legislative history, which includes records of debates and committee reports, is often considered when courts aim to ascertain the purpose and scope of legislation.

Some of the other materials listed, such as published case law, are generally more authoritative and routinely relied upon in legal decisions. However, they are not the focus of this question, which pertains specifically to materials that may add context to legal arguments. Presidential campaign speeches and research articles from law journals, while they may provide interesting perspectives or information, do not have the same weight in legal interpretation as statements from Congressional debates, which are directly linked to the legislative process.