State v. Williams’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

12 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 12 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “While specific instances of drug use or mental instability are not directly probative of truthfulness, they may bear upon credibility in other ways, such as to “cast doubt upon the capacity of a witness to observe, recollect, and recount, and if so they are properly the subject not only of cross-examination but of extrinsic evidence . . .”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 167 N.C. App. 371 - State v. Floyd · 145 N.C. App. 555 - State v. Galloway

2. “Where, as here, the witness in question is a key witness for the State, this jurisdiction has long allowed cross-examination regarding the witness’ past mental problems or defects. As stated by Chief Justice Stacy: “The denial of any impeachment [as to mental defects] of the State’s only eye-witness . . . necessitates another hearing. It is always open to a defendant to challenge the credibility of the witnesses offered by the prosecution ... against him.” State v. Armstrong, 232 N.C. 727, 728 , 62 S.E.2d 50, 51 (1950). It is beyond dispute that [the witness’] testimony here was essential to the State’s case. No other evidence linked defendant directly to the [crime],”

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

3. “(b) Scope of cross-examination. - A witness may be cross-examined on any matter relevant to any issue in the case, including credibility.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 167 N.C. App. 371 - State v. Floyd