State v. Houde’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

24 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 24 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The core of the offense of ‘reckless driving’ plainly lies not in the act of operating a motor vehicle, but in the manner and circumstances of its operation. * * * * * * “Until the manner and surrounding circumstances of operation are known, it is impossible to determine whether or not there has been a violation of the statute. From the statement ‘in a reckless manner’ taken alone, as in this complaint, the respondent gains no information of the facts from which the State will seek to prove the ultimate fact of ‘reckless driving.’ ””

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

2. ““If the statute does not sufficiently set out the facts which make the crime, so that a person of common understanding may have adequate notice of the nature of the charge which he is called upon to meet, then a more definite statement of the facts than is contained in the statute becomes necessary.””

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

3. ““The right of the accused to be informed of ‘the nature and cause of the accusation’ against him is guaranteed by the Constitution. * * * We must guard against any procedure which tends even slightly to reduce the value of this great right of free men.””

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