349 Pa. Super. 430 - Commonwealth v. Beckham’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

20 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. “[Appellant’s] reliance on contradictions between [the witness’] out-of-court statements and his in-court testimony is misplaced, for such discrepancies concern credibility and do not render impossible rational consideration of the evidence presented. A new trial may be appropriate in a case where the testimony at trial is hopelessly contradictory, but in this case [the witness’] testimony at trial was consistent. Appellate courts reverse convictions based upon unreliable or contradictory evidence in order to prevent the verdict from being based upon mere conjecture ‘rather than the product of reasonable reconciliation.’ Such a purpose would not be served by removing evidence from the jury’s consideration merely because it was challenged by the defense as to its credibility. (Emphasis in original).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 364 Pa. Super. 151 - Commonwealth v. Lapcevich