Butler v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

39 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 39 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The question as to whether the revocation of a license because of an act for which the licensee has been convicted or because of the conviction itself is an added punishment has frequently been before the courts. The universal holding is that such a revocation is not an added punishment, but is a finding that by reason of the commission of the act or the conviction of the licensee, the latter is no longer a fit person to hold and enjoy the privilege which the State had theretofore granted to him under its police power. The authorities agree that the purpose of the revocation is to protect the public and not to punish the licensee.” Prichard v. Battle, 178 Va. 455 , 17 S.E.2d 393, 395 . See also Butler v. Commonwealth, 189 Va. 411 , 53 S.E.2d 152 .”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Thompson v. Thompson · 44 Va. App. 196 - Corbin v. Commonwealth

2. ““Upon any reasonable ground appearing in the records of the Division, the Commissioner may, when he deems it necessáry for the safety of the public on the highways of this State, and after notice and hearing as hereinbefore provided, suspend or revoke for a period not to exceed five years, and not reissue during the period'of suspension or revocation, the operator’s or chauffeur’s- license of any person who is a violator of the provisions of the . Motor Vehicle Codé, as amended, and he may suspend or revoke for a like period, and not reissue during the period of suspension or revocation, any or all of his registration certificates and registration plates for any motor vehicle.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Willis v. Commonwealth

3. ““1. He [the Commissioner] must deem the suspension or revocation of the operator’s license ‘necessary for the safety of the public on the highways of this State.’ 2. The ground upon which the conclusion of the Commissioner is based, — that the safety of the public will be jeopardized unless the license is suspended, — must appear ‘in the records of the Division’ of Motor Vehicles. 3. The ground of suspension must be ‘reasonable’, both as to the necessity therefor and the duration thereof.””

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