State v. Ziegler’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

60 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 62 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “We therefore interpret statutory language in the context in which it is used, 'not in isolation but as part of the whole.' In addition, we must construe statutory language reasonably. An unreasonable interpretation is one that yields absurd results or contravenes the statute's manifest purpose.”

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

2. “When a party asks this court to overturn a prior interpretation of a statute, it is his 'burden . . . to show not only that [the decision] was mistaken but also that it was objectively wrong, so that the court has a compelling reason to overrule it.'”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 385 Wis. 2d 633 - State v. Zachary S. Friedlander

3. “The principle of stare decisis applies to published decisions of the court of appeals, and stare decisis requires us to follow court of appeals precedent unless a compelling reason exists to overrule it.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. AllEnergy Corporation v. Trempealeau County Environment & Land Use Committee