State v. Lewis’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

45 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 45 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[A] court should strive to avoid statutory interpretations that `lead to absurd or unreasonable results.'”

   6 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Shelley · State v. Hudson

2. “The provisions of the code shall be construed according to the fair import of their terms but when the language is susceptible of differing constructions it shall be interpreted to further the general purposes stated in this section and the special purposes of the particular provision involved. The discretionary powers conferred by the code shall be exercised in accordance with the criteria stated in the code and, insofar as such criteria are not decisive, to further the general purposes stated in this section. [ N.J.S.A. 2C:1-2 (c).]”

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

3. “Any person who violates subsection a. of N.J.S. 2C:35-5 by distributing, dispensing or possessing with intent to distribute a controlled dangerous substance ... while in, on or within 500 feet of the real property comprising a public housing facility, a public park, or a public building is guilty of a crime of the second degree, except that it is a crime of the third degree if the violation involved less than one ounce of marijuana. [N.J.S.A 2C:35-7.1aJ”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 396 N.J. Super. 259 - State v. Chambers