305 Pa. Super. 321 - Commonwealth v. Siebert’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

11 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 11 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In the instant case, the trial judge informed Appellant not only that the prosecution would have the burden of proving his guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, but also ‘before a jury could find you guilty ... all twelve of them would have to agree that you are guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.’ When the trial judge informed Appellant that the members of the jury must agree before they find him guilty, the judge was, in essence, informing Appellant that he was innocent until proven guilty. The phrase ‘before a jury could find you guilty,’ conveys the same idea as the phrase ‘presumed innocent. ’”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 369 Pa. Super. 224 - Commonwealth v. Proctor

2. “(1) Does the defendant understand the nature of the charges to which he is pleading guilty? (2) Is there a factual basis for the plea? (3) Does the defendant understand that he has the right to trial by jury? (4) Does the defendant understand that he is presumed innocent until he is found guilty? (5) Is the defendant aware of the permissible range of sentences and/or fines for the offenses charged? (6) Is the defendant aware that the judge is not bound by the terms of any plea agreement tendered unless the judge accepts such agreement?”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 321 Pa. Super. 122 - Commonwealth v. Owens

3. “In the instant case, the “essential ingredients” of the presumption of innocence were explained to Appellant. By informing him that the verdict must be unanimous “before a jury could find you guilty”, Appellant was advised that the jury would not even have the power to find him guilty until the condition of unanimity had been fulfilled. Since a person is innocent until he has been found guilty, the foregoing phrase in the instant case conveyed the “essential ingredients” of the concept, presumption of innocence.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 332 Pa. Super. 177 - Commonwealth v. Best