State v. Meidinger’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

46 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 whole problem directs itself ultimately on appeal to the adequacy or inadequacy of defense counsel and in the eyes of this Court such adequacy or inadequacy of counsel should not be tested by the greater sophistication of appellate counsel who did not try the ease, nor should the test be made on the basis of applying different defense tactics, perhaps of donbtful efficiency, after leisurely studying the transcript of the trial. To make success the only test of effective counsel would be an injustice to many able counsel, for frequently the ablest of counsel is overcome by truth. íí# # * “* * * Likewise we feel, under the facts before us, that where two defendants desire to retain one counsel their decision should be honored. Too, that later, when on hindsight after conviction, they should not be allowed to change that decision by alleging on appeal the inadequacy of their chosen counsel, especially when raised for the first time on appeal.1 ’”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Jeffrey

2. ““A conviction cannot be had on the testimony of an accomplice, unless he. is corroborated by other evidence, which in itself, and without the aid of the testimony of the accomplice, tends to connect the defendant with the commission of the offense; and the corroboration is not sufficient, if it merely shows the commission of the offense, or the circumstances thereof.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Spielmann

3. ““* * * We cannot accept this contention. Defendant in interpreting this doctrine points out 33 separate specifications of alleged errors and claims that the aggregate of these errors when taken as a whole constitutes prejudicial error. This doctrine, if it in fact exists, presumes that all 33 allegations are errors.” (Emphasis supplied.)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. McGuinn v. State