2015 Pa. Super. 211 - Commonwealth v. Hanna’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 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 3 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[W]e note that [i]t is legal error to fail to impose a RRRI minimum on an eligible offender. A challenge to a court's failure to impose an RRRI sentence implicates the legality of the sentence. In this context, Appellant challenges the court's interpretation of a statute. [B]ecause statutory interpretation implicates a question of law, our scope of review is plenary and our standard of review is de novo. When interpreting a statute: Our task is guided by the sound and settled principles set forth in the Statutory Construction Act, including the primary maxim that the object of statutory construction is to ascertain and effectuate legislative intent. 1 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 1921(a). In pursuing that end, we are mindful that "[w]hen the words of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit." 1 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 1921(b). Indeed, "[a]s a general rule, the best indication of legislative intent is the plain language of a statute." In reading the plain language, "[w]ords and phrases shall be construed according to rules of grammar and according to their common and approved usage," while any words or phrases that have acquired a "peculiar and appropriate meaning" must be construed according to that meaning. 1 Pa.C.S.[A.] [§] 1903(a). However, when interpreting non-explicit statutory text, legislative intent may be gleaned from a variety of factors, including, inter alia: the occasion and necessity for the stat”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 2016 Pa. Super. 167 - Commonwealth v. Hodge

2. “provides (1) that a sentencing court must designate a sentence as an RRRI sentence whenever the defendant is eligible for that designation, and (2) that a defendant is eligible for that designation if he has not been previously convicted of certain enumerated offenses and '[d]oes not demonstrate a history of present or past violent behavior.' 61 Pa.C.S.[A.] § 4503 (defining”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 2016 Pa. Super. 167 - Commonwealth v. Hodge

3. “[w]hen the words of a statute are clear and free from all ambiguity, the letter of it is not to be disregarded under the pretext of pursuing its spirit.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 2016 Pa. Super. 167 - Commonwealth v. Hodge