State v. Johnson’s Empirical Analysis
2004
Citation profile
28 state decisions
How this case has been cited
Cited by 28 later decisions — most recently June 2025 · most notably Phelps v. Physicians Insurance (2009), State v. Maloney (2005)
28 state decisions
Later decisions citing this case, by decade. The current decade is in progress, and our corpus holds fewer opinions from the most recent years, so the latest bars are undercounted — not a real decline.
Relationships
Relies on Strickland v. Washington · Berger v. United States · Reichelt v. Gates · 208 Wis. 2d 166 - In RE MARRIAGE OF COOK v. Cook · State v. Singh
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 28 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.
“We see no good reason to adopt a bright line rule that automatically permits or prohibits the type of questions at issue here. In general, other courts have concluded that questioning a witness on whether another witness lied poses definite dangers to the fact-finding process. For example, some courts have reasoned that such ques tions may well invade the jury’s province to determine witness credibility; suggest only one explanation for inconsistent testimony and disregard other possible explanations, such as mistake, poor ability or opportunity to observe, or hazy recollection; produce answers that are not particularly helpful to the trier of fact; and be argumentative and encourage decision-making on an improper basis. Despite those concerns, “were they lying” questions may not always be improper. For example, such questions may be appropriate when the only possible explanation for the inconsistent testimony is deceit or lying or when a defendant has opened the door by testifying about the veracity of other witnesses on direct examination. Absent such circumstances, however, the safest and recommended course is for parties to refrain from asking such questions.”
1 later decision quote this exact passagee.g. People v. Liggett“Although relevant, evidence may be excluded if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice, confusion of the issues, or misleading the jury, or by considerations of undue delay, waste of time, or needless presentation of cumulative evidence.”
1 later decision quote this exact passagee.g. State v. Jones“exercise reasonable control over the mode and order of interrogating witnesses and presenting evidence so as to do all of the following: (a) Make the interrogation and presentation effective for the ascertainment of the truth.”
1 later decision quote this exact passagee.g. State v. Jones
How this case has been treated — in progress
Whether each later court followed, distinguished, criticized, or overruled this decision. The treatment classification (task #35) runs highest-cited cases first and lights up here as it reaches this one.