State v. Ardoin’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

38 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 38 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““It strikes us that the true guide should be a reasonable discretion, and whenever the specific act, by reason of its character, or its relationship in time, place or circumstance to the other facts in the case, would legitimately and reasonably either affect the defedannt’s apprehensions, or throw light on the question of aggression, or upon the conduct or motives of the parties at the time of the affray, it should be admitted.’”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Nieto · State v. Houston

2. ““In homicide cases, -where the killing is sought to be justified on the ground of self-defense, two important questions of fact are presented to the jury for answer: (1)‘ Who was the aggressor? and (2) What were the reasonable apprehensions of the defendant for his life and safety?' We can say generally that whatever evidence will assist the jury in answering these questions, or either of them, should be admitted if properly offered. Boyle v. State, 97 Ind. 322 . So, if either party to the affray had been making threats against the other, although uncommunicated to the other, that fact would materially aid the jury in determining who was the aggressor.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Houston