People v. Ferry’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

20 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. ““It is worthy of note that this was not defendant’s first ‘brush’ with the law. He had suffered four prior convictions, was on parole, and it is to be supposed that he had some knowledge of court proceedings in criminal matters. About six months had elapsed, during which time he discussed his case with various attorneys, including the public defender, and these discussions must surely have involved some talk as to conduct of the defense and as to witnesses who might be summoned in his defense. His claim that he and his counsel were not in full accord as to the conduct of the case is not unusual. It happens frequently. But responsibility for deciding how a case shall be conducted is placed squarely upon the shoulders of counsel and properly so. It is his right and duty to control the trial. (People v. Mattson, 51 Cal.2d 777, 788 , 336 P.2d 937 .) * * * ””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 51 Ala. App. 573 - Taylor v. State