State v. Marra’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

163 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 163 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “It is axiomatic that, in order to be admissible, evidence must be relevant to an issue in the case in which it is offered. Evidence need not be conclusive to be relevant ... and [t]he fact that evidence is susceptible of different explanations or would support various inferences does not affect its admissibility, although it obviously bears upon its weight. So long as the evidence may reasonably be construed in such a manner that it would be relevant, it is admissible.... Evidence is relevant if it has a logical tendency to aid the trier in the determination of an issue.... We have also held that evidence need not exclude all other possibilities [to be relevant]; it is sufficient if it tends to support the conclusion [for which it is offered], even to a slight degree.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 186 Conn. App. 754 - Edward M. v. Commissioner of Correction

2. “On February 6, 1984, the [petitioner] asked [Nicholas] Byers to drive the fifteen year old victim, another associate of the [petitioner], to the [petitioner's] house later that day. At the same time, the [petitioner] asked [Frank] Spetrino [an associate of his] if he would help him put the victim in a barrel. That evening, Byers drove the victim [Alex Palmieri], Spetrino and Tamara Thiel, the victim's girlfriend, to the [petitioner's] house. The [petitioner], the victim, Byers and Spetrino entered the [petitioner's] garage, while Thiel remained in the car.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 174 Conn. App. 440 - Marra v. Commissioner of Correction

3. “The quantum of evidence necessary to establish probable cause exceeds mere suspicion, but is substantially less than that required for conviction. Our cases have made clear [t]hat there is often a fine line between mere suspicion and probable cause, and [t]hat line necessarily must be drawn by an act of judgment formed in light of the particular situation and with account taken of all the circumstances. . . .”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Roklen, No. Cr02 2002-166 (Oct. 9, 2002)