State v. Burney’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

19 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 22 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Obviously, rape and other sexual offense cases involve matters of the most sensitive and personal nature. These considerations are compounded when a child of tender years is involved and is called upon to testify in strange surroundings before unknown persons as to matters the child may not fully understand. This [C]ourt has historically recognized the delicate sensitivities which are inherent in prosecutions of sexual offenses. It is this delicacy, as well as the age of the child, which makes out a showing of an overriding interest to justify closure. Third, unlike Richmond Newspapers , the present case did not involve a closure of all trial proceedings. It involved the closing of the courtroom for only a limited period of time. In summary, Richmond Newspapers does not serve to support [D]efendant's demand that he be awarded a new trial because a trial judge in the interest of the fair administration of justice may impose reasonable limitations upon the access of the public and the press to a criminal trial.”

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

2. “Prior to trial [] defendant moved for a continuance on the ground that a copy of the hospital’s report had not been sent to his attorney as had been ordered .... The trial judge informed defense counsel that he had received a copy of the report that day and would be glad to furnish him a copy of it. Counsel stated that he felt that he was entitled to an opportunity to study the report at length, and to have defendant’s own experts examine it. Upon inquiry from the court, counsel stated that he had been informed previously that the report was in the clerk’s office in a sealed envelope addressed to the presiding judge. He further stated that the clerk had suggested that he ask the presiding judge for a copy. Before ruling on the motion for a continuance, the court gave counsel time to read the report and go over it with defendant.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 157 N.C. App. 22 - State v. Wolfe

3. “fashion support for a sixth amendment claim from a case which has manifest first amendment underpinnings”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ernest Sutton Bell v. Mack Jarvis Robert Smith