Lopez v. Maes’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 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 3 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““On the question of appellant’s ability to comply with the order of the court to make payments for the support of the child, the court found: ‘That the defendant has no property, either real or personal, and that he is without employment.’ “Reference was made to his relatives and friends and their ability to aid him; also, to the fact that he had the services of an attorney at this contempt hearing, and that he had been represented by counsel in all previous hearings. Appellant testified that he had tried to get work, and named several parties, among whom was the government CCC Camp commander, to whom he had applied. This testimony was uncontradicted. Apparently the court was of the opinion that appellant had not made proper effort to find employment. “Punishment for past offenses fall under the classification of criminal contempt, and the sentence must be for a definite period. Gompers v. Buck’s Stove Co., 221 U. S. 418 , 31 S. Ct. 492 , 55 L. Ed. 797 , 34 L. R. A., N. S., 874. Before appellant can be deprived of his liberty, the fact that he had willfully disobeyed the order of the court must be established. Without a scintilla of evidence contradicting his testimony, resort was necessarily had to inference or conjecture. “Civil contempt proceedings of this kind are similar to those brought for the purpose of coercing the payment of alimony. We recently held (Syl.): ‘Present'ability to pay arrears of monthly sums allowed for support of children is essential to validity of a”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Acker v. Adamson