State v. Helfrich’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 11 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. ““[I]t produces what I would call a semipermeable wall of separation between individual and state; just as the wall of separation between church and state is absolute, the wall we are proposing with this section would be semipermeable. That is, as a participating member of society, we all recognize that the state must come into our private lives at some point; but what it says is, don’t come into our private lives unless you have a good reason for being there. We feel that this, as a mandate to our government, would cause a complete reexamination and guarantee our individual citizens of Montana this very important right . . . .” (Emphasis supplied.) Mon tana Constitutional Convention, Transcript of Proceedings, Vol. VII, pp. 5185-5182.”

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

2. ““ '. . . It isn’t only a careless government that has this power to pry; political organizations, private information gathering firms, and even an individual can now snoop more easily and more effectively than ever before . . .’ Tr. at p. 5182.” Helfrich, 183 Mont, at 488 , 600 P.2d at 818 .”

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

3. ““The right of individual privacy is essential to the well-being of a free society and shall not be infringed without the showing of a compelling state interest. 1972 Montana Constitution, Article II, Section 10.””

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