People v. Goldstein’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

70 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 72 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““A defendant charged with abortion 'cannot be convicted upon testimony of the woman upon or with whom the offense was committed, unless she is corroborated by other evidence. ’ (Pen. Code, § 1108.) Corroboration is sufficient if it tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime in such a way as may reasonably satisfy the jury that the woman is telling the truth. [Citations.] It has been held that the corroborative evidence need not by itself establish that the crime was committed or show all the elements thereof, but it must relate to some act or fact which is an element of the offense. [Citations.] It must create more than a suspicion, but it may be sufficient even though slight and entitled to but little consideration when standing by itself. [Citations.] “ A woman who has submitted to an abortion is not an accomplice of the persons charged with procuring or conspiring to procure the miscarriage. [Citations.] . . . Moreover, any one of the women upon whom an abortion was performed can act as a corroborating witness with respect to matters which she may have observed that are relevant to another count charging the performance of an abortion upon a different woman. [Citations.] “. . . Although the testimony of one woman that a person performed an abortion upon her is not of itself sufficient to corroborate the testimony of a second woman that the same person committed an abortion upon her [citations], it has been held that there is sufficient corroboration if”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 188 Cal. App. 2d 395 - People v. Reed

2. ““ ‘It is not necessary that the accomplice be corroborated as to every fact to which he testifies. If his testimony could be completely proven by other evidence, there would be no occasion to offer him as a witness. [Citations.] For the same reason, it is not necessary that the independent evidence be sufficient to establish the defendant’s guilt. The prosecution is not required to single out an isolated fact which in itself, unrelated to other proven facts, is considered to be sufficient corroboration. It is the combined and cumulative weight of the evidence furnished by nonaceomplice witnesses which supplies the test.’ [Citations.] “. . . ‘ When as in the present record it is discovered that there is testimony aside from that of the accomplice which tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the crime, the function of the appellate court is performed.’ . . . “ The corroboration may, of course, be furnished by defendant’s own words or conduct. [Citations.] ””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 188 Cal. App. 2d 395 - People v. Reed

3. ““ ‘It is true in a criminal ease as in civil actions that a statement against interest made by a party constitutes original and independent evidence of the facts so stated.’ ” (Emphasis added.) It is also noted in the Mills case, supra, at page 407 that, “... an offer or an attempt to make a sale comes within the statutory definition of sale.” (See Corp. Code, § 25009, subd. (a).)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 184 Cal. App. 2d 317 - People v. Mason