State v. Ellis’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

17 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 17 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[I]t is apparent that a man who habitually carries and uses such weapons in quarrels must cause greater apprehension of danger than one who does not bear such reputation . . . The vital question is the reasonableness of the defendant's apprehension of danger . . . The jury are [sic] entitled to stand as nearly as practicable in the shoes of defendant, and from this point of view determine the character of the act.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 88 Wash. 2d 221 - State v. Wanrow

2. ““Do you know the general reputation and the habit of the deceased, during the times, and in the communities you have stated, as to resorting to the use of fire-arms and other deadly weapons when engaged in quarrels?””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Churchill

3. “'at the time of the alleged killing the deceased was making or immediately preceding the killing had committed some overt act . . .'”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 88 Wash. 2d 221 - State v. Wanrow