32 Va. App. 576 - Parsons v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

33 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 33 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Because we find grounds to reverse the case on the basis of [the court’s failure to dismiss a juror for cause] and remand the case for a new trial, we address [the defendant’s] claim that the Commonwealth failed to present sufficient evidence of his attempt to [abduct with intent to defile]. If the evidence adduced at trial was insufficient to convict [the defendant], he is entitled to an acquittal [on that charge]; if he is so entitled, a remand for retrial would violate the Constitution’s prohibition against double jeopardy.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 69 Va. App. 604 - Kimberly Paul Barney v. Commonwealth of Virginia · 51 Va. App. 679 - Scialdone v. Commonwealth

2. “Although it is impossible to adopt a bright-line rule for distinguishing acts of mere preparation from acts that constitute an attempt, “it may be said that preparation consists [of] ... arranging the means or measures necessary for the commission of the offense and that the attempt is the direct movement toward the commission after the preparations are made.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Demetrie Lamont Watkins v. Commonwealth of Virginia · 65 Va. App. 485 - Claude Davis v. Commonwealth of Virginia

3. ““When considering the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal of a criminal conviction, we must view all the evidence in the light most favorable to the Commonwealth and accord to the evidence all reasonable inferences fairly deducible therefrom. The jury’s verdict will not be disturbed on appeal unless it is plainly wrong or without evidence to support it.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 37 Va. App. 299 - Hargraves v. Commonwealth