State v. Butler’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

16 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 16 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"A defendant is entitled to a directed verdict when the [S]tate fails to produce evidence of the offense charged." "If there is any direct or substantial circumstantial evidence reasonably tending to prove the guilt of the accused, the appellate court must find the case was properly submitted to the jury." However, when a defendant claims self-defense, the State is required to disprove the elements of self- * defense beyond a reasonable doubt. We find the State did not carry that burden.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Smith · State v. Oates

2. “On appeal from the denial of a directed verdict, this [c]ourt views the evidence and all reasonable inferences in the light most favorable to the State.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Smith · State v. Oates

3. “[W]hen ruling on a motion for a directed verdict, the [circuit court] is concerned with the existence of evidence, not its weight.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Smith · State v. Oates