State v. Cross’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

13 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 13 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[t]he goal is to ensure that the sentence, in a particular case, is proportional to sentences given in similar cases; is not freakish, wanton, or random; and is not based on race or other suspect classifications.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. State v. Gregory · State v. Schierman

2. “[w]hether the sentence of death is excessive or disproportionate to the penalty imposed in similar cases, considering both the crime and the defendant.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Schierman · State v. Yates

3. “Ridgway's abhorrent killings, standing alone, do not render the death penalty unconstitutional or disproportionate. Our law is not so fragile.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. In Re Elmore · State v. Yates