Wilcox v. . Wilcox’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

45 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 46 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The fact that the child prefers her grandfather to her own mother and her own sister is an argument for changing her home, that her affections may be restored to their natural channel.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Henkle v. Patterson · Ex parte Summers

2. ““* * * Although the grandfather procured himself to be appointed, by the surrogate, the guardian of the person and estate of the child, that does not interfere with the power of the court of chancery to control its custody. The father is the natural and legal guardian of the child; still, the court will, in a proper case, interfere even with his control. The motive to the exercise of this power is the benefit of the child, and is not to be defeated by one having a mere legal title to the custody of the child, any more than it would be defeated if the legal guardian should abuse his trust. The court of chancery acted as the guardian of all infants; this was one of its most sacred, and most worthy and most important duties. Whatever might have been the origin of this power in England, it passed to and was exercised by our court of chancery, without any dispute as to its jurisdiction.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State Ex Rel. Gravelle v. Rensch