State v. . Patton’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

18 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 20 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““However, it appears from the record that after the trial judge had imposed sentence that the prayer for judgment be continued on condition that the defendant be of good behaviour and pay a fine of $25.00 and the costs, the defendant gave notice of appeal. Thereupon the judge ordered the previous judgment stricken out and imposed a sentence of ninety days in jail. While undoubtedly the presiding judge had the power to change his judgment at any time during the term in his sound discretion (S. v. Godwin, 210 N.C., 447 , 187 S.E., 560 ), yet it seems here, under the circumstances described in the record, the action of the judge was induced by the defendant’s expression of his intention to appeal. This tended to impose a penalty upon the defendant’s right of appeal and to affect the exercise of his right to do so. . . . . . . This right ought not to be denied or abridged, nor should the attempt to exercise this right impose upon the defendant an additional penalty or the enlargement of his sentence.””

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Patton v. State of North Carolina · 17 N.C. App. 104 - In Re Moses

2. ““ ‘The presumption is that the sentence first imposed was, in the opinion of the court, a proper punishment for the offense, and no further reason for changing it appears from the record than that stated in the bill of exceptions.’ ” Patton, supra Ibid.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Patton v. State of North Carolina