State v. White’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “An examination of the facts in this case demonstrates that this was a second degree murder case in which defendant benefitted greatly from the lesser verdict of manslaughter. Three brothers fought a lone man and used as weapons a golf club and a chair. When the fight ended, Powell who was wearing only basketball shorts walked away, but defendant got a pistol and shot Powell. Intentionally pointing and firing a gun at close range supports a specific intent by defendant to kill the unarmed and defenseless victim.”

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

2. “In considering the nature of the offense, both the trial court and the reviewing court may assess whether the crime for which defendant has been convicted adequately describes his conduct when the conviction is for a lesser included responsive offense to the crime charged. The fact that the evidence might have supported a verdict of second degree murder is an appropriate sentencing consideration in a case such as this one in which the defendant has been convicted of the lesser offense of manslaughter.”

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