Knighten v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

12 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 12 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “" 'Although the defendant has a right to have questions answered truthfully on voir dire examination of the venire, the failure of a juror to make a proper response to a question regarding his qualifications to serve as a juror does not automatically entitle the defendant to a new trial. The proper inquiry is whether the defendant's rights were prejudiced by the juror's failure to properly and correctly respond.' "”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Knight v. State · Mims v. State

2. ““[T]he undisputed evidence shows that juror Cecil Caldwell did not learn that the Dunk and Mary Alice Muskgrove he knew were the parents of the- victim until after the trial was completed. He further testified that his acquaintance with Mr. and Mrs. Muskgrove did not influence his judgment and verdict in any manner. We note that in his voir dire examination of the jury defense counsel did not mention the names of the parents of the deceased. We find that Mr. Caldwell’s failure to disclose his acquaintance with the decedent’s family did not and could not have prejudiced the defendant.””

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

3. “Statements of law in judicial opinions, especially when taken out of context, are not always proper for jury instructions in other cases.”

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