State v. LaForge’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

17 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 17 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Definition of intent, intentionally. Intentionally means that the actor either had a purpose to do the thing or to cause the results specified or believes that his act, if successful, would cause that result. In addition, the actor must have knowledge of those facts which are necessary to make his conduct criminal. Intent is something that exists in a person’s mind. It is seldom, if ever, that a person’s intent can be proven by direct evidence. The intent may be inferred by the nature of the acts, what the defendant did, what the defendant said and how the defendant acted. Generally it may be inferred that a person intends the acts which he or she voluntarily performs.”

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

2. “So unless the contrary appears from the evidence, the jury may draw the inference that the accused intended all the consequences which one standing in like circumstances and possessing like knowledge should reasonably have expected to result * * *.”

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

3. “An error in instructions with respect to fundamental law or controlling principle may be assigned in a motion for a new trial though it was not otherwise called to the attention of the court.”

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