State v. Corley’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

94 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 94 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[T]he court must proceed to determine whether the statement made by the defendant was in fact voluntarily and understandingly made which is the ultimate test of the admissibility of a confession. In determining whether a defendant’s statement was in fact voluntarily and understandingly made, the court must consider the totality of the circumstances of the case and may not rely upon any one circumstance standing alone and in isolation, (citation omitted.)”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Thomas · 73 N.C. App. 662 - State v. Parrish

2. “In a voir dire hearing on the admissibility of a defendant’s confession, the trial court must determine whether the State has borne its burden of showing by a preponderance of the evidence that the defendant’s confession was voluntary. The preponderance of the evidence test is not, however, to be applied by appellate courts in reviewing the findings of the trial court. The findings by the trial court are conclusive and binding upon appellate courts if supported by competent evidence in the record. . . . The trial court’s conclusions of law, however, are fully reviewable by appellate courts.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. McCullers · 102 N.C. App. 598 - State v. Allen

3. “The defendant is not, however, entitled to a new trial. In failing to submit the essential element of kidnapping in the first degree set forth in subsection (b) of G.S. 14-39, the trial court essentially submitted to the jury the offense of kidnapping in the second degree. In finding the defendant guilty of kidnapping in the first degree, the jury necessarily found facts establishing the offense of kidnapping in the second degree. The jury’s verdict will be considered a verdict of guilty of kidnapping in the second degree. We, therefore, leave the verdict undisturbed but recognize it as a verdict of guilty of the lesser included offense of kidnapping in the second degree, vacate the judgment imposed upon the verdict of guilty of kidnapping in the first degree and remand the case to the Superior Court, Buncombe County, for judgment and resentencing as upon a verdict of guilty of kidnapping in the second degree.”

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