259 Pa. Super. 240 - Commonwealth v. Ramsey’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

46 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 46 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “. . . [0]ur inquiry ceases and counsel’s assistance is deemed constitutionally effective once we are able to conclude that the particular course chosen by counsel had some reasonable basis designed to effectuate his client’s interest. The test is not whether other alternatives were more reasonable, employing a hindsight evaluation of the record. Although weigh the alternatives we must, the balance tips in favor of a finding of effective assistance as soon as it is determined that trial counsel’s decisions had any reasonable basis. (Footnote deleted.)”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Commonwealth v. McCarty · 298 Pa. Super. 1 - Commonwealth v. Dobson

2. ““ . . . Our courts have developed a two-step analysis in reviewing allegations of ineffective counsel. Commonwealth v. Hubbard, 472 Pa. 259 , 372 A.2d 687 (1977). First, the court must decide whether the claim which counsel is charged with not pursuing, has ‘arguable merit.’ If it does not, our inquiry ends there. If the claim does possess such merit, we must then determine whether counsel’s action or inaction had any reasonable basis. If the state of the record does not permit resolution of this question we will remand for an evidentiary hearing. Commonwealth v. Twiggs, 460 Pa. 105 , 331 A.2d 440 (1975). If the court can resolve this second question on the record, we will grant appropriate relief.” (Footnotes omitted.)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 269 Pa. Super. 601 - Commonwealth v. Ramirez

3. “... The primary reason for the admissibility of such confrontations is that the close proximity in time and place to the actual offense so enhances the reliability as to outweigh the prejudice. The closer the confrontation to the time of the crime, the greater is the likelihood that the victim or witness can recall the image of the criminal. Similarly, the less the environment of the criminal episode has changed, the fewer the extraneous factors of suggestion that adhere to any confrontation between victim or witness and suspect____ (citations omitted)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 309 Pa. Super. 280 - Commonwealth v. Donley