State v. Ward’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

9 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 10 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““Before expressing any opinion upon the numerous bills of exception which are presented for our consideration, it is proper that notice should be taken of the extent of our jurisdiction in criminal matters. By constitutional provision it is limited to questions of law; and, in giving effect to this limitation of our appellate jurisdiction, we have, on five different occasions, held that we could take cognizance only of unmixed questions of law, that these questions should be submitted upon bills of exception taken to the ruling of the inferior courts, or upon assignment of errors, unless the defects are patent on the face of the papers, and, finally, that, though certified by the district judge or the clerk, the facts of the case did not fall within our jurisdiction, and we were not justified in giving them our consideration.””

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

2. ““If the juror has not formed an opinion as to the guilt of the prisoner, it is idle to.inquire whether he has made up his mind as to the degree of punishment that should be awarded.” .”

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