186 So. 3d 242 - State v. Williams’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

25 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 25 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The trial judge is afforded wide discretion in determining sentences, and the court of appeal will not set aside a sentence for excessiveness if the record supports the sentence imposed.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Williams · State v. Bradley

2. “The Louisiana legislature promptly addressed the Miller directive against mandatory life-without-parole sentences for juvenile killers by devising a sentencing procedure which would require that a trial court sentencing a youthful offender review all pertinent factors before determining whether parole eligibility was warranted. ... [L]ife without parole is still a constitutionally acceptable sentence for adult killers and it is not a prohibited sentence for all juvenile killers. Our legislature carefully designed an adequate solution by adding a new statute pertaining to parole eligibility for juvenile killers which is to be read in conjunction with the first and second degree murder statutes. In the event that the trial court imposes a life sentence with parole eligibility, La. R.S. 15:574.4(E) provides conditions which must be satisfied before the defendant can apply to the parole board for parole consideration. Either sentencing scheme of life imprisonment with parole, or life imprisonment without parole, is proper and not unconstitutional under Miller v. Alabama , supra . Accordingly, we find the defendant was not entitled to be sentenced to the next available responsive verdict of manslaughter. See , State v. Graham , 14-1769 (La. App. 1 Cir. 4/24/15), 171 So.3d 272 [, writ denied , 15-1028 (La. 4/8/16), 191 So.3d 583 ].”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 258 So. 3d 973 - State v. Smith · 247 So. 3d 129 - State v. Williams

3. “State v. Williams , 15-0866, pp. 12-13 (La. App. 4 Cir. 1/20/16), 186 So.3d 242 , 250, writ de nied , 16-0332 (La. 3/31/17), 217 So.3d 358 (citation omitted). Both the Eighth Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I, § 20 of the Louisiana Constitution prohibit the imposition of excessive and cruel punishment. State v. Wilson , 14-1267, p. 23 (La. App. 4 Cir. 4/29/15), 165 So.3d 1150 , 1165. A sentence is excessive, even when it is within the applicable statutory range, if it is”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Bradley · 249 So. 3d 260 - State v. Alridge