State v. Rich’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 federal appellate · 138 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 148 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““ ‘The charge of the court must be read as a whole ... , in the same connected way that the judge is supposed to have intended it and the jury to have considered it....’ State v. Wilson, 176 N.C. 751 , [754-55,] 97 S.E. 496 [, 497] (1918). It will be construed contextually, and isolated portions will not be held prejudicial when the charge as [a] whole is correct. If the charge presents the law fairly and clearly to the jury, the fact that some expressions, standing alone, might be considered erroneous will afford no ground for reversal.””

   7 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 220 N.C. App. 37 - State v. Foye · State v. Hooks

2. ““Intent to kill is not a necessary element of second-degree murder, but there must be an intentional act sufficient to show malice.” Accordingly, ... it was necessary for the State to prove only that defendant had the intent to perform the act of driving in such a reckless manner as reflects knowledge that injury or death would likely result, thus evidencing depravity of mind. The State was not required to show that defendant had a conscious, direct purpose to do specific harm or damage, or had a specific intent to kill.”

   6 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 251 N.C. App. 463 - State v. Lail · 197 N.C. App. 738 - State v. Davis

3. “inherently dangerous to human life ... done so recklessly and wantonly as to manifest a mind utterly without regard for human life and social duty and deliberately bent on mischief”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 256 N.C. App. 148 - State v. Mosley · 251 N.C. App. 463 - State v. Lail