State v. Watson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 federal appellate · 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. “1) determine that there is a good faith basis for the inquiry; 2) determine that the acts or events about which the [State] proposes to inquire are relevant to the particular character trait testified to by the witness on direct examination; 3) determine that the acts are not too remote in time to be relevant cross-examination of the character witness-, 4) reject any inquiry where the prejudicial effect outweighs the probative value; and 5) if requested, instruct the jury that the purpose of the question is only to test the basis for the character witness’ testimony.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 232 Md. App. 342 - Williams v. State

2. ““The potential price that a defendant may pay for offering proof of his or her good character is to throw open an avenue of inquiry previously foreclosed to the State.””

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

3. “engaged in vaginal intercourse on more than one occasion, but the victim but was never forced to do so. The victim also stated that she was in love with the accused.”

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