Hoffman v. United States’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 federal appellate · 4 district · 7 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 17 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “(a) Whoever knowingly easts contempt upon any flag of the United States by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling on it shall be fined not more than $1,000.00 or imprisoned for not more than one year, or both.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Hendricks v. Hogan · Joyce v. United States

2. ““Statute violates due process of law if it is so vague and standardless that it leaves public uncertain as to conduct it prohibits, but statute is not required to be drawn with precision of chemical formula or mathematical equation..” “Statute proscribing knowingly casting contempt upon any flag of United States by publicly mutilating, defacing, defiling, burning, or trampling upon it is not unconstitutionally vague.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 32 Ohio App. 2d 16 - State v. Mitchell

3. ““We conclude that the use of the word ‘defile’ in the subject Statute was intended to include public conduct which brings shame or disgrace upon the flag by its use for an unpatriotic or profane purpose. It is our opinion that the wearing of a shirt which resembles the American flag, under the circumstances of this case, is a physical act which defiles the flag in violation of 18 U.S.C. § 700 .””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 327 F. Supp. 176 - Oldroyd v. Kugler