Mecham v. Gordon’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 district · 33 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 36 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Article 3 of the state Constitution prohibits judicial interference in the legitimate functions of the other branches of our government. We will not tell the legislature when to meet, what its agenda should be, what it should submit to the people, what bills it may draft or what language it may use. The separation of powers required by our Constitution prohibits us from intervening in the legislative process.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Arizona Minority Coalition for Fair Redistricting v. Redistricting Com'n Arizona Independent · Airness & Accountability in Insurance Reform v. Greene

2. “[W]e can only conclude that the power of impeachment is exclusively vested in the House of Representatives and the power of trial on articles of impeachment belongs solely to the Senate. The Senate's task is to determine if the Governor should be removed from office. Aside from disqualification from holding any other state position of "honor, trust, or profit," the Senate can impose no greater or lesser penalty than removal and can impose no criminal punishment. Trial in the Senate is a uniquely legislative and political function. It is not judicial.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. SER Margaret L. Workman v. Mitch Carmichael, as President of the Senate · FAIRNESS & ACCT. IN INS. REFORM v. Greene

3. “shall be divided into three separate departments,”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Valencia Energy Co. v. Arizona Department of Revenue · FAIRNESS & ACCT. IN INS. REFORM v. Greene