Finney v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 16 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 18 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"There is no distinction in the law between the weight or value to be given to either direct or circumstantial evidence." Muhammad v. Commonwealth, 269 Va. 451, 479 , 619 S.E.2d 16, 31-32 (2005), cert. denied, 547 U.S. 1136 [ 126 S.Ct. 2035 , 164 L.Ed.2d 794 ] (2006). Our Supreme Court has held that "`circumstantial evidence is competent and is entitled to as much weight as direct evidence[,] provided that the circumstantial evidence is sufficiently convincing to exclude every reasonable hypothesis except that of guilt.'" Finney v. Commonwealth, 277 Va. 83, 89 , 671 S.E.2d 169, 173 (2009) (quoting Dowden v. Commonwealth, 260 Va. 459, 468 , 536 S.E.2d 437, 441 (2000)). Furthermore, circumstantial evidence "is not viewed in isolation." Muhammad, 269 Va. at 479 , 619 S.E.2d at 32 . "While no single piece of evidence may be sufficient, the combined force of many concurrent and related circumstances, each insufficient in itself, may lead a reasonable mind irresistibly to a conclusion." Id. (citation omitted).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 56 Va. App. 391 - Turner v. Commonwealth

2. “the application of some force, slight though it may be, whereby the entrance is [achieved]. Merely pushing open a door, turning the key, lifting the latch, or resort to other slight physical force is sufficient to constitute this element of [burglary], so long as those acts resulted in an entrance contrary to the will of the occupier of the [property].”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Charles Jayson Beck, s/k/a Charles Jason Beck v. Commonwealth of Virginia

3. “While no single piece of evidence may be sufficient, the combined force of many concurrent and related circumstances, each insufficient in itself, may lead a reasonable mind irresistibly to a conclusion.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 56 Va. App. 391 - Turner v. Commonwealth