McKnight v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

25 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 25 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “That LUCAS LORENZO BAILEY did in Aiken County on or about April 26, 2001, commit the crime of Homicide By Child Abuse in violation of South Carolina Code Ann. Section 16-3-85, in that the defendant did cause the death of Charles D. Allen, a child two (2) years of age, while committing child abuse or neglect as defined by South Carolina Code Section 20-7-490, and the death of said child occurred under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life, in that Lucas Lorenzo Bailey was responsible for the welfare of said child and the defendant did inflict physical harm to the child, to wit: The defendant inflicted upon said child physical injuries to his abdomen resulting in exsanguination and consequently the death of the child.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Greene · Bailey v. State

2. “Involuntary manslaughter is defined as the unintentional killing of another without malice while engaged in either (1) the commission of some unlawful act not amounting to a felony and not naturally tending to cause death or great bodily harm, or (2) the doing of a lawful act with a reckless disregard for the safety of others.”

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

3. “A person is guilty of homicide by child abuse if the person ... causes the death of a child under the age of eleven while committing child abuse or neglect, and the death occurs under circumstances manifesting an extreme indifference to human life.”

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