State v. Taylor’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

42 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 43 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Fundamental unfairness occurs when the state's failure to disclose results in defendant's 'genuine surprise' and the surprise prevents meaningful efforts to consider and prepare a strategy for addressing the evidence.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Artis · State of Missouri v. Danielle Ann Zuroweste

2. “(1) the sentence of death was imposed under the influence of passion, prejudice, or any other arbitrary factor; (2) Whether the evidence supports the jury’s or judge’s finding of a statutory aggravating circumstance as enumerated in subsection 2 of section 565.032 and any other circumstance found; (3)the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime, the strength of the evidence, and the defendant.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Zink

3. “A trial court abuses its discretion when its ruling is clearly against the logic of the circumstances then before the court and is so arbitrary and unreasonable as to shock the sense of justice and indicate a lack of careful consideration. If reasonable persons can differ as to the propriety of the trial court’s action, then it cannot be said that the trial court abused its discretion.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Massa