Thompson v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 federal appellate · 25 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 30 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““ ‘The substance of these provisions is that an officer may lawfully proceed to arrest without a warrant any person when the officer has, with reasonable cause, been led to believe that the person has committed, is committing, or is about to commit a felony. It is essential to the protection of society that a wide discretion be vested in officers chosen to enforce our laws against felonies. It is impossible to define “reasonable cause” in terms to fit all cases arising. Each case must stand on its own facts. A narrow construe tion would open the way for the escape of desperate criminals and the defeat of justice. One too liberal would lead to the harassment of the innocent. But the officer may not he required to wait for assurance, or evidence which would convict; when circumstances fairly point to a felony it is his duty to act, and act promptly.’ ””

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

2. ““(a) A private person may arrest another: (1) ... (2) When the person arrested has committed a felony, although not in his presence; (3)When a felony has been committed, and he has reasonable cause to believe that the person arrested committed it.””

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