State v. Watson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

18 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 20 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “While we agree with the state that it was error to dismiss the subject count of the information based upon a proffer of “facts,” we do not agree that the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction. Jurisdiction is the power of the court to hear and determine a cause, including the power to enforce its judgment; it is the power to hear and determine the subject matter in controversy between the parties. . . . We do not suggest the state concurred in any manner to the dismissal of this case. But it is evident the state did not object on the basis now argued. The ground of the state’s objection, as we interpret the record, was that the proffered evidence was sufficient to sustain the allegation that Ms. Watson was legally charged with the care or custody of [the child]. Had the state objected on the ground that the “facts” could be determined only by means of a trial and not by way of a proffer at a pretrial hearing, presumably the error would not have occurred.”

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