Johnson v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Over a ten-month period, appellant told all seven attorneys that he used to work for Diamond [Drilling Company] and that he and a coworker had been injured while unloading pipes on an oil rig, usually called the Ocean Nugget. Appellant’s comatose coworker usually was named John Dubois, and appellant frequently claimed that Dubois’s wife Mary also needed representation. In most instances, appellant claimed that Diamond had offered a settlement. Appellant also consistently stated that he had injured his knee, leg, and back, and that he needed further surgery; appellant typically claimed that Dr. Criswell was going to perform the operation. Furthermore, appellant repeatedly lamented that he needed money to care for his wife, who usually was named Vanessa, and their four children. Appellant always requested large sums of money from the complainants and disappeared after receiving the money. Appellant used the same alias with several complainants, and he routinely mentioned certain other characters in his various accounts, including Michael Heni-son/Henderson, Mr. Bradley, Dr. Blackwell, and Chris Hamilton.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Riley v. State · 595 F. Supp. 2d 735 - Johnson v. Quarterman

2. “Between January 2003 and October 2003, appellant met with seven different attorneys to discuss a potential personal injury claim. Using several aliases, appellant claimed that he had been injured in an offshore accident while working for Diamond Drilling Company (“Diamond”). Specifically, appellant told the attorneys that he and his co-worker, John Dubois, had been unloading pipes when a cable on the crane broke, causing the heavy pipes to fall on top of them. Appellant, who frequently limped and carried a cane when he met with the attorneys, claimed that he had been knocked unconscious and that he had injured his knee, leg, and back. Appellant said that he had undergone knee surgery at University of South Alabama Hospital in Mobile and showed some attorneys his scar. Appellant claimed that Dubois had been transported to Louisiana, where he remained in a coma. Appellant then' informed the complainants that orthopedic surgeon Dr. Alan Criswell was going to operate on appellant’s back at Hermann Hospital in Houston. Appellant also told most of the complainants that Dubois’ wife Mary wished to be represented by the same attorney as appellant. Additionally, appellant claimed that Diamond had offered to settle and that until recently, the company had been paying his family’s living expenses. However, when he met with the complainants, appellant lamented that he could no longer pay his rent and that the landlord was threatening to evict him, his wife, and their four small children.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 595 F. Supp. 2d 735 - Johnson v. Quarterman

3. “About a month before trial, appellant complained that he could not communicate with his attorney, Cedrick Mu-hammed. Asserting that he wished to represent himself, appellant acknowledged that he would not “get any special breaks.” In response to the court’s initial questions about his education, appellant stated that he was forty-one years old and had completed school through the ninth grade, although he was “well-equipped like a person who graduated.” Appellant answered affirmatively when the court asked whether appellant understood the charges against him and the possible punishment ranges; when the court asked him to elaborate, he stated: “There are three cases, each are [sic] third degree felonies are [sic] enhanced by one prior true felony which makes the punishment range two years to twenty years in the punishment and a ten thousand dollar fine.” When appellant expressed uncertainty about the punishment range regarding the last offense, the district attorney retrieved the file, which included the most recent cause number for the third case and a copy of the indictment. Later, appellant also stated that he knew he would be required to serve the punishment assessed by the jury if his conviction were upheld on appeal. When the court asked about the extent of appellant’s “knowledge of specific rules of criminal cases and what things you will have to do to represent yourself,” appellant responded: “I have to know when to object what questions to be asked and at my trial what”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 595 F. Supp. 2d 735 - Johnson v. Quarterman