Bridges v. Matthews’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

23 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 23 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “'“In Thompson v. Childers, 231 Ky. 179 , 21 S. W. 2d 247 , a contract whereby a father surrendered the custody of his children to others was upheld, and, in the opinion, it was said that once having surrendered possession of children voluntarily and freely a parent may not take them away from those to whom he surrendered them without first showing that it would be for the best interest of the children to- do so. The evidence in this case shows that the child, now 12% years of age, has a good home in a good community, and that those with whom he has lived nearly all of his life are devoted to him and willingly performing for his welfare all that could be desired. He is a bright, intelligent boy, and happily situated. He has reached the age where it would be difficult for him to adjust himself to new surroundings completely at variance with those with which he has been familiar. He expressed a strong desire to remain with his grandmother, and, under the circumstances of this case, his desire should be given great weight. In Cummins v. Bird, 230 Ky. 296 , 19 S. W. 2d 959 , this court adjudged that the maternal grandfather was entitled to the custody of a' 12 year old child as against the father, and the desire of the child was the decisive factor in the case.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Rose v. Ledford

2. ““If sympathy for appellant in his natural -desire to have the companionship and care of his son would control, the prayer of his petition would be granted, but a still more sacred consideration must direct our judgment. The controlling consideration is the welfare of the child. Here the child has been separated from his father since early infancy, and obviously has transferred his interests and affections to his present home and those who compose the family of which he is now a member. Undoubtedly, it would be a serious injury to him to sever the ties that now bind him to his surroundings and those whom he loves. ’ ’”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Rose v. Ledford