"strained interpretation" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when someone is trying to interpret something in a way that is difficult, forced, or unlikely. For example, "My boss's strained interpretation of the law resulted in an expensive lawsuit."
Justice Goodman called the argument by lawyers for the landlords a "strained interpretation" that was inconsistent with the purpose of the law.
Through a foggy and strained interpretation of the First Amendment, we have accepted that money is free speech, and that a candidate's viability is measured first and foremost by his or her ability to get people to write checks.
While the majority did not reach the merits of the Batson claim, it engaged in a detailed review of the extensive evidence concerning the prosecution's discriminatory jury selection practices and also criticized the lower court's "dismissive and strained interpretation" of the evidence.
Mainly because the boss's wife was not an elected official empowered to give a direct dismissal order, the independent counsel did not think he could get a conviction, but concluded that her sworn denial of a "role" was a "strained interpretation of the language" and "is contrary to common sense".
Many of the turn of the millennium tax shelters worked by creating basis out of thin air with an unbalanced entry involving option contracts, that was based on a strained interpretation of partnership regulations.
It seems like a strained interpretation at best to grant profit-making companies unlimited access to mind-bending advertising in the name of free speech.
The only way to explain their strained interpretations is to give actual examples.
As in "The Culture of Fear" (Basic Books), Mr. Glassner exposes the strained interpretations, "prejudices dressed up as science," and pure fabrications behind much received wisdom simply by checking out sources with an eye to original meanings.
The Pritzkers refused to use some of Kanter's more strained interpretations of tax loopholes.
Yet, in 86 cases over the past 15 years, courts of last resort in at least 44 states have invalidated the reforms using strained interpretations of the states' constitutions.
"The court regards its strained statutory interpretation as judicial modesty.
