" Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, a continuing-legal-education provider approved by the state bar may conduct seminars without fulfilling any other requirement.” There may be nothing to the contrary anywhere in the document—even nothing that could be thought to be to the contrary. But the catchall notwithstanding is a fail-safe way of ensuring that the clause it introduces will absolutely, positively prevail. "

― Antonin Scalia , Reading Law: The Interpretation of Legal Texts