State v. Wadel’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 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 4 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Both rules find their genesis in sexual offense cases, where the testimony of the victim was considered highly suspect. ... But the rules have branched apart, and though similar, are no longer one and the same. The corroboration rule is more properly referred to as the corroboration exception to the general rule that in sexual offense cases, the victim’s testimony alone is sufficient to sustain a conviction even if uncorroborated. This exception applies only where the victim’s trial testimony is in conflict with physical facts, surrounding circumstances, and common experiences such that its validity is doubtful. This exception does not apply merely because the testimony of the victim includes inconsistencies or contradictions as to minor points of a nonessential nature because conflicts of a nonessential nature and issues regarding the credibility of witnesses are matters for the [fact-finder] to determine. The destructive contradictions doctrine, on the other hand, provides that a witness’s testimony loses probative value when his or her statements at. trial are so inconsistent, contradictory, and diametrically opposed to one another that they rob the testimony of all probative force. Like the corroboration exception, the destructive contradictions doctrine has very limited application. It does not apply to contradictions as to collateral matters, or to inconsistencies not sufficient to make the testimony inherently self-destructive. Likewise, the doctrine does not apply whe”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. In the Interest of K.A.R. v. Juvenile Officer

2. “any act involving the genitals of one person and the hand, mouth, tongue, or anus of another person or a sexual act involving the penetration, however slight, of the male or female sex organ or the anus by a finger, instrument or object done for the purpose of arousing or gratifying the sexual desire of any person or for the purpose of terrorizing the victim.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. State of Missouri v. Sylvester Porter