Rainey v. Haley’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. “[T]he South Carolina Constitution and this Court have expressly recognized and respected the Legislature’s authority over the conduct of its own members. Consequently, a court’s exercise of jurisdiction over Appellant’s ethical complaint against Governor Haley would not only contravene the clear language of the State Ethics Act, it would also violate separation of powers. In sum, ethics investigations concerning members and staff of the Legislature are intended to be solely within the Legislature’s purview, to the exclusion of the courts, except in the singular circumstance expressly provided for in section 8-13-530(4).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ex parte Harrell v. Attorney General of South Carolina

2. “If after [a] preliminary investigation, the ethics committee finds that probable cause exists to support an alleged violation, it shall, as appropriate: (a) render an advisory opinion to the respondent and require the respondent’s compliance within a reasonable time; or (b) convene a formal hearing on the matter within thirty days of the respondent’s failure to comply with the advisory opinion. All ethics committee investigations and records relating to the preliminary investigation are confidential. No complaint shall be accepted which is filed later than four years after the alleged violation occurred.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. Ex parte Harrell v. Attorney General of South Carolina

3. “Courts of record within their respective jurisdictions shall have power to declare rights, status and other legal relations whether or not further relief is or could be claimed. No action or proceeding shall be open to objection on the ground that a declaratory judgment or decree is prayed for. The declaration may be either affirmative or negative in form and effect. Such declarations shall have the force and effect of a final judgment or decree.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. Gantt v. Selph