State v. Finney’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 federal appellate · 8 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 10 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Except as otherwise provided by statute, upon an inquiry into the validity of a verdict or indictment a juror may not testify as to any matter or statement occurring during the course of the jury’s deliberations ... except that a juror may testify on the question whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury’s attention!].]”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Luna · Uhlir v. Webb

2. “A common ground for a motion for a new trial is that the jury, or members of it, has not performed in the fashion expected of juries. Attacks on this ground are frequently abortive because, as will be seen, the circumstances under which the jurors themselves may testify to impeach the verdict are very limited. [[Image here]] The correct rule is that a juror may testify about whether extraneous prejudicial information was improperly brought to the jury’s attention or whether any outside influence was improperly brought to bear upon any juror. A juror may not testify about statements made during the course of the jury’s deliberation nor may he testify about the effect of anything upon his or any other juror’s mind or emotions as influencing him to assent to the verdict or about his mental processes in connection with the verdict.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Shamburger v. Behrens

3. “While the rule against impeachment of a jury verdict is strong and necessary, it is not written in stone nor is it a door incapable of being opened. It competes with the desire and duty of the judicial system to avoid injustice and to redress the grievances of private litigants. The concern for fairness to the parties and monitoring the integrity of the judicial system leads us to conclude that a trial court may, in appropriate circumstances, consider allegations that extraneous prejudicial remarks were made to jurors which were not a part of the judicially guarded evidence they received.”

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