Aguilera v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

5 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 5 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[I]n 2008 and 2009 a joint task force, made up of both federal and state law enforcement authorities, was conducting an investigation into a large drug trafficking organization operating in the metropolitan Atlanta area. A major target of the investigation was Soccoro Hernandez-Rodriguez, known as “Soco,” a high-level member of the organization. The task force was able to obtain a warrant to tap Soco’s cell phone; all calls coming to and being made from that number were monitored and, if the call pertained to drug-related activity, the conversation was recorded and transcribed. On October 16 or 17, 2009, the task force received information indicating that Soco was expecting a large shipment of drugs. In response to this information, agents set up surveillance in the area of Indian Trail and Dickens Roads in Gwinnett County on October 17, the location being chosen based upon the GPS coordinates of Soco’s cell phone and the fact that one of his “stash houses” [ 2 ] was located in that area. Shortly before 2:00 p.m., the task force intercepted a phone call to Soco from another drug trafficker, known only as Titin. A transcript of that call was introduced at trial and read for the jury. During the call, the men negotiated Titin’s purchase of two kilograms of cocaine from Soco.[ 3 ] Titin indicated that he would have a runner [ 4 ] pick up the drugs, and Soco told him that the runner should meet Soco at a Shell gas station located at the intersection of Indian Trail Road and 1-85.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Hernandez-Garcia v. State

2. “the relevant question is whether, after viewing the evidence in the light most favorable to the prosecution, any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. In determining that question, we consider the inferences that can be logically derived from the evidence presented at trial. As long as there is some competent evidence, even though contradicted, to support each fact necessary to make out the State’s case, the jury’s verdict will be upheld.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Hernandez-Garcia v. State

3. “two drug dogs performed a free air sniff around the car. The dogs indicated that narcotics were present in the back of the car, behind the driver’s seat. Agents then opened the car and found a grocery bag on the floor behind the driver’s seat that contained a cereal box. Inside the box were two packages of cocaine, each weighing approximately one kilogram.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Hernandez-Garcia v. State