State v. Sepahi’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

67 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 67 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[A] statute's language is the most reliable index of its meaning”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Hollenback · State v. Ramsey

2. “Because a “dangerous crime against children” is defined as one “committed against a minor under fifteen years of age,” the defendant’s conduct must be focused on, directed against, aimed at, or target a victim under the age of fifteen. We do not hold that the statute applies only when the accused targets a victim whom the accused knows is under the age of fifteen. On the contrary, we approve of an earlier holding of the court of appeals that knowledge of the victim’s age is unnecessary under the statute. When an individual targets a person, he or she generally assumes the risk that the victim will turn out to be within a protected age group.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Coghill

3. “because there was no evidence that he was 'peculiarly dangerous to children' or that he 'pose[s] a direct and continuing threat to the children of Arizona.’”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Castaneda