State v. Downing’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

12 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 12 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[o]nce a valid sentence is imposed, the court lacks jurisdiction to vacate or modify it unless specifically authorized by statute.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Docken · Wilkinson v. State

2. “Once the decision was made to revoke defendant's suspended sentence, the District Court had the discretion to allow credit for the "good time" served by the defendant, but that is all. Section 95-2206(3), R.C.M. 1947. The District Court did not have the statutory authority to require defendant to serve sixty days in the Ravalli County Jail and another thirty-four months on a suspended sentence. Section 95-2206(6) did not permit this kind of modification. Accordingly, there was no authority for the District Court to grant the county attorney's petition to again revoke the suspended sentence. At this point, the District Court no longer has jurisdiction over the defendant and a sentence imposed at this time would be void.”

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

3. “revoke such suspension or impose sentence and order such person committed, or may, in his discretion, order the prisoner placed under the jurisdiction of the state board of pardons as provided by law, or retain such jurisdiction with this court.”

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