State v. Johnson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 district · 51 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 63 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Probable cause, broadly defined, comprises such facts as would reasonably persuade an impartial and reasonable mind not merely to suspect or conjecture, but to believe that criminal activity has occurred.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 185 Conn. App. 308 - State v. Correa · State v. Houghtaling

2. “The quantum of evidence necessary to establish probable cause exceeds mere suspicion, but is substantially less than that required for conviction. Our cases have made clear that [t]here is often a fine line between mere suspicion and probable cause, and [t]hat line necessarily must be drawn by an act of judgment formed in light of the particular situation and with account taken of all the circumstances. ... Furthermore, when we test the quantum of evidence supporting probable cause, it is not the personal knowledge of the arresting officer but the collective knowledge of the law enforcement organization at the time of the arrest [that] must be considered.”

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

3. “The determination of whether probable cause exists under the fourth amendment to the federal constitution ... is made pursuant to a totality of circumstances test.... The probable cause test then is an objective one.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 185 Conn. App. 308 - State v. Correa