Ex Parte Robinson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

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

1. ““ * * * ‘They (grand jurors) are neither required nor authorized by any statute to report the result of such investigations (sections 4497 and 4519, Code) when they fail to find any impeachable fault or offense; and when they report and criticize any misconduct, real or fancied, of lesser grade, it cannot be for the purpose of invoking any judicial action, and is in fact no part of any judicial proceeding, actual or potential.’ The opinion at another place proceeds: ‘We cannot overlook the fact, which is a matter of common knowledge, that grand juries in this state have immemorially exercised this form of supervision over the official conduct of county officers, and have from time to-time admonished them of alleged official misconduct, and criticized them for supposed official improprieties, and have brought such matters to the attention of the public, as a part of their general report to the court. This practice has the sanction at least of general custom, and may perhaps be justified by considerations of public welfare or necessity.’ * * ””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ex Parte Burns

2. “* * * a grand jury transcends its powers and exceeds its duty when in its presentment * * * it presents an officer or person by name, and with words of censure and reprobation, without presenting him for indictment.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State Ex Rel. De Armas v. Platt