Cunningham v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[A] prisoner sentenced to two consecutive terms by different judges could have applied for parole at the end of the minimum term of the first sentence, and, if such a “constructive parole” had been allowed, could have immediately entered the minimum term of the second sentence while, at the same time, serving the balance of the maximum term of his first sentence. Thus, the final maximum term expiration date could occur earlier, as illustrated by petitioner’s contention in this case, as a consequence of overlapping the balance of the first term with the second term. (Emphasis in original.)”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Keith v. Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole · Alexander v. Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole

2. “Whenever, after the effective date of this act, two or more sentences to run consecutively are imposed by any court of this Commonwealth upon any person convicted of crime therein, there shall be deemed to be imposed upon such person a sentence the minimum of which shall be the total of the minimum limits of the several sentences so imposed, and the maximum of which shall be the total of the maximum limits of such sentences.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Keith v. Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole · Jamieson v. Commonwealth, Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole