Williams v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 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 3 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “1. A person who actually killed, intended to kill, or attempted to kill the victim and who is convicted under s. 782.04 of a capital felony, or an offense that was reclassified as a capital felony, which was committed before the person attained 18 years of age shall be punished by a term of imprisonment for life if, after a sentencing hearing conducted by the court in accordance with s. 921.1401, the court finds that life imprisonment is an appropriate sentence. If the court finds that life imprisonment is not an appropriate sentence, such person shall be punished by a term of imprisonment of at least 40 years. A person sentenced pursuant to this subparagraph is entitled to a review of his or her sentence in accordance with s. 921.1402(2)(a). 2. A person who did not actually kill, intend to kill, or attempt to kill the victim and who is convicted under s. 782.04 of a capital felony, or an offense that was reclassified as a capital felony, which was committed before the person attained 18 years of age may be punished by a term of imprisonment for life or by a term of years equal to life if, after a sentencing hearing conducted by the court in accordance with s. 921.1401, the court finds that life imprisonment is an appropriate sentence. A person who is sentenced to a term of imprisonment of more than 15 years is entitled to a review of his or her sentence in accordance with s. 921.1402(2)(c). 3.The court shall make a written finding as to whether a person is eligible for a sen”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Roderick D. Williams v. State

2. “Because the jury did not find that [Appellant] actually possessed and discharged a firearm during the crime, the court must make a written finding as to whether [Appellant] killed, intended to kill, or attempted to kill the victim. Based on that determination, after holding the individualized hearing, the trial court may sentence [Appellant] to life imprisonment if it finds that life is an appropriate sentence. If the trial court determines that life is not an appropriate sentence, then it should sentence Appellant to a term of at least forty years’ imprisonment. Either way, unless [Appellant] has a prior conviction of a felony enumerated in section three of chapter 2014-220, Laws of Florida, arising out of a separate criminal transaction or episode, he will receive a judicial review of his sentence after fifteen or twenty-five years, depending on the court’s determination.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Roderick D. Williams v. State