Sanderson v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

23 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 23 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In general, we are reluctant to find plain error in closing arguments lest 'the trial court become [] charged with an adversary responsibility to control argument even when objection is not taken by the opposing attorney.'”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ernest Ray Watts v. State · Guy v. State

2. “The objector should lay his finger on the particular point intended to be raised so that the trial court will have notice and an opportunity to cure the alleged error.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Causey v. State · Farrow v. State

3. “Instruction No. 6 and 7-and these are the elements that the State has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. Just these elements, nothing else. Nothing more. wore ook [AJbuse is still abuse, and harm is still harm. And the statute and the jury instructions tell you that physical injury-this is Instruction No. 10-means any harm to a child including but not limited to. And then it goes on to give you some examples, talks about bleeding. But the important thing to remember is physical injury means any harm. And look at this instruction and apply the law to the facts. some or [WJhat we do have, ladies and gentleman, is harm, physical injury. It doesn't matter that it's on a very low spectrum as compared to broken bones or disfigurement, but we still have physical injury.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. James Vincent Andersen