12 Md. App. 225 - Widdoes v. Widdoes’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

19 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 19 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““* * * In our review the clearly erroneous rule applies to the chancellor’s factual findings. But for the reasons set out in Sullivan v. Auslaender, 12 Md. App. 1 , we must exercise our best judgment in determining whether the conclusion as to custody the chancellor reached on those facts was the best one, best, that is, for the welfare, benefit and interest of the child.””

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Silseth v. Levang · 24 Md. App. 277 - Renwick v. Renwick

2. ““So while we recognize the importance of the opportunity by the chancellor to see and hear the witnesses in custody cases and the reluctance of the Court of Appeals and this Court to disturb his findings of fact, we are not bound by the strictures of the clearly erroneous rule, but rather exercise our best judgment, in determining that ‘ultimate’ question of ‘transcendent’ and ‘paramount’ and ‘controlling’ importance, whether the conclusion of the chancellor was the best one for the welfare, benefit, and interest of the child.” [Emphasis supplied.]”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Silseth v. Levang