In re S.D.W.’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

5 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 5 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[this Court] went on to consider the constitutional implications of [the respondent's] claim, holding that when "a biological father, who prior to the filing of the petition was unaware that the mother was pregnant and had no reason to know [of the pregnancy], promptly takes steps to assume parental responsibility upon discovering the existence of the child has developed a constitutionally protected interest sufficient to require his consent where the adoption proceeding is still pending."”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. In re S.K.G. · In Re Adoption of S.D.W.

2. “Unless consent is not required under G.S. 48-3-603, a petition to adopt a minor may be granted only if consent to the adoption has been executed by... [a]ny man who may or may not be the biological father of the minor but who . . . [b]efore the earlier of the filing of the petition or the date of a hearing under G.S. 48-2-206, has acknowledged his paternity of the minor and . . . [h]as provided, in accordance with his financial jneans, reasonable and consistent payments for the support of the biological mother during or after the term of pregnancy, or the support of the minor, or both, which may include the payment of medical expenses, living expenses, or other tangible means of support, and has regularly visited or communicated, or attempted to visit or. communicate with the biological mother during or after the term of pregnancy, or with the minor, or with both.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. In Re Adoption of S.D.W.

3. “determined that the issues on appeal boiled down to 'whether the trial court properly concluded that [the respondent's] consent was not required under the adoption statutes and under the state or federal constitutions and whether the trial court properly interpreted the statutes at issue.'”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. In re S.K.G.