115 Ill. 2d 72 - People v. Guest’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 federal appellate · 94 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 109 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““Defendant was charged *** with intentional murder (count 1), knowing murder (count 2), and felony murder (count 3). The record reveals that the trial court found him guilty on all three counts. The court, having heard the witnesses and having weighed the evidence, found that the State had proved each charge beyond a reasonable doubt. However, despite there being evidence to support each charge, it must be remembered that only one person was murdered. In such circumstances, this court has held that only the conviction for the most serious murder offense charged will be upheld, with convictions on the less serious murder charges vacated. [Citations.] Where, as here, charges of intentional, knowing, and felony murder have been proved, intentional murder is deemed the most serious offense. [Citation.] It is clear, therefore, that defendant’s convictions for knowing murder and felony murder should be vacated.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 240 Ill. App. 3d 110 - People v. Cardona

2. ““Murder — Death penalties — Exceptions — Separate Hearings — Proof — Findings—Appellate procedures — Reversals. (a) A person who kills an individual without lawful justification commits murder if, in performing the acts which cause the death: (1) He either intends to kill or do great bodily harm to that individual or another, or knows that such acts will cause death to that individual or another; or (2) He knows that such acts create a strong probability of death or great bodily harm to that individual or another; or (3) He is attempting or committing a forcible felony other than voluntary manslaughter.” (111. Rev. Stat. 1985, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1.)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 121 Ill. 2d 470 - People Ex Rel. Daley v. Strayhorn

3. ““A defendant who at the time of the commission of the offense has attained the age of 18 or more and who has been found guilty of first degree murder may be sentenced to death if the defendant has been convicted of murdering two or more individuals ***.” Ill. Rev. Stat. 1989, ch. 38, par. 9 — 1(b)(3).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 182 Ill. 2d 96 - People v. Johnson