State v. Murchison’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

18 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 18 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “A trial court abuses its discretion 'when a ruling is manifestly unsupported by reason or is so arbitrary that it could not have been the result of a reasoned decision.'”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 258 N.C. App. 134 - State v. Melton · 264 N.C. App. 659 - State v. Newsome

2. “[A] proceeding to revoke probation is not a criminal prosecution and is often regarded as informal or summary. Thus, the alleged violation of a valid condition of probation need not be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Instead, all that is required in a hearing of this character is that the evidence be such as to reasonably satisfy the judge in the exercise of his sound discretion that the defendant has willfully violated a valid condition of probation. Accordingly, the decision of the trial court is reviewed for abuse of discretion.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 264 N.C. App. 659 - State v. Newsome · 248 N.C. App. 744 - State v. Hancock

3. “Probation or suspension of sentence comes as an act of grace to one convicted of, or pleading guilty to, a crime.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 264 N.C. App. 659 - State v. Newsome · 254 N.C. App. 809 - State v. Trent