State v. Benoit’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

20 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 20 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “To test the propriety of the trial court’s denial of the defendant’s motion for a judgment of acquittal, we determine whether the evidence, when viewed in the light most favorable to the State, fairly and reasonably supports the jury’s finding of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. State v. Bishop, 127 Vt. 11, 15 , 238 A.2d 772, 774 (1968). Where the case is entirely circumstantial, we further subject the evidence to a second test of strict scrutiny. “[T]he circumstances proved must do more than create a mere suspicion of guilt, however strong. . . . The circumstances shown must exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that the respondent is guilty.” State v. Goodhart, 112 Vt. 154, 158 , 22 A.2d 151, 153 (1941) (citations omitted).”

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

2. “It may be that the evidence raises a suspicion and possibly a strong one that the respondent was involved in the crimes charged. But as we have said before, mere suspicion, however strong, will not supply the place of evidence. State v. Boudreau, 111 Vt. 351, 364 , 16 A.2d 262, 267 (1940).”

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