Fields v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

31 state decisions

Most-quoted passages

The sentences later courts lift from this opinion, ranked by how many decisions quote each — the parts of the opinion doing the work. These counts are smaller than the citation total above because most of the 31 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “... evidence may be offered by the state and the defendant as to any matter the court deems relevant to sentencing, including but not limited to ... evidence of an extraneous crime or bad act that is shown beyond a reasonable doubt by evidence to have been committed by the defendant or for which he could be held criminally responsible....”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. Haley v. State · Huizar v. State

2. “[EJvidence [of extraneous bad acts and offenses] may not be considered in assessing punishment until the fact-finder is satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that [such acts and offenses] are attributable to the defendant, [emphasis supplied] Once this requirement is met, the fact-finder may use the evidence however it chooses in assessing punishment.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. Huizar v. State · Moore v. State

3. “1) Does a defendant who does not request an instruction on the definition of "reasonable doubt” at punishment waive any error on appeal? 2) Must a trial court instruct the jury on the definition of "reasonable doubt” at punishment even in the absence of a request for such an instruction?”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. Franklin v. State