Harrison v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““the text in 16 C.J. 469, § 843, upholds the right of the court, in a criminal prosecution’ on an application for continuance because of the- absence of ’ witnesses, to inform itself as to the truth of such alleged testimony, and when the court is convinced that the absent witness will testify to no such facts as are contained in the affidavit it has the right, in furtherance of justice and to prevent a miscarriage thereof,. to shape its rulings in accordance .-with a sound discretion controlled by the particular facts of the case, and which, we are convinced is a whole-,. some rule, and should be.applied in or-' ■ der to prevent trifling with the court by unscrupulous defendants who are shown to be guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and who are seeking a continuance for delay only.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Tinsley v. Commonwealth

2. ““Under section 189 of the Criminal Code of Practice, whenever an application shall be made by a defendant for continuance, based upon an affidavit stating the absence of a witness and the facts which such absent witness would, if present, prove, the attorney for the Commonwealth shall be compelled, in order to prevent a continuance, to admit that such absent witness would, if present, testify as alleged in the affidavit, although he no longer is required to admit the truth of the testimony.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Tinsley v. Commonwealth