410 So. 2d 147 - Vaught v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

27 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 28 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[W]e note that in deciding this case we do not express any opinion concerning the possible significance of a holding that a particular aggravating circumstance is ‘invalid’ under a statutory scheme in which the judge or jury is specifically instructed to weigh statutory aggravating and mitigating circumstances in exercising its discretion whether to impose the death penalty. * * * [T]he Constitution does not require a State to adopt specific standards for instructing the jury in its consideration of aggravating and mitigating circumstances * * *.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Cheadle

2. “[s]ince [defendant] made no objection to the instructions below, this point may not be raised on appeal.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Garcia