Commonwealth v. Adams’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

5 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 5 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “We have examined New, a landmark case____ As we view the language, it sets standards for trial judges to follow in deciding whether to submit a case to the jury or direct a verdict. See Commonwealth v. New, supra, at 221, 47 A.2d at 450 . In Commonwealth v. Martin, 479 Pa. 63 , 387 A.2d 835 (1978) similar language was referred to as an “evidentiary proposition.” To submit the language as quoted to a jury would confuse persons unlearned in the law, and perhaps many who are supposed to be learned. Circumstantial evidence “is sufficient if the circumstances are consistent with criminal activity even though they might likewise be consistent with innocent behavior.” (Emphasis supplied). Commonwealth v. Moore, 226 Pa.Super. 32, 34 , 311 A.2d 704, 705 (1973).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 445 Pa. Super. 43 - Commonwealth v. Vitale