Boyles v. Roberts’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 4 district · 35 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 43 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “An analysis of our cases show that, in cases where civil or property rights are involved, the courts of this state will inquire into matters ecclesiastical.... ... [I]t would be a flagrant violation of constitutional mandates for the civil courts of this state, in cases involving property rights, to attempt to hide behind the judgments and decrees of any ecclesiastical tribunal[.] The duty of our courts in such cases is to investigate the facts, and all the facts, bearing upon the issue as to property rights. If that investigation in a measure intrudes upon the decrees of bodies having no authority to pass upon property rights, there is no remedy for it. Of those pure ecclesiastical questions of creed, faith, or church discipline we should wash our hands, unless an investigation thereof is required to determine property rights. If for that purpose it should be required, our constitutional duty is to so investigate.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Heartland Presbytery v. Gashland Presbyterian Church

2. ““But brethren dwell together in unity, not by identity of beliefs, nor by the acceptance of absolutely unobjectionable doctrinal symbols, but by mutual tolerance, forbearance and love.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ramsey v. Hicks

3. “‘ ‘ The revision of the confession of faith had effected no material change in the doctrinal attitude of our church.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ramsey v. Hicks