Williams v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

33 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 33 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"to make the defendant aware of the benefits he must relinquish, and the dangers and disadvantages of self-representation. Thereafter the trial court must determine whether defendant has made his choice voluntarily and intelligently. We have further held that the trial court should determine whether unusual circumstances exist which would cause the accused to be deprived of a fair trial if permitted to conduct his own defense, and that the purpose of such inquiries, such as the accused's age, mental derangement, lack of knowledge, education or inexperience in criminal proceedings, is to make certain that defendant is aware of the disadvantage under which he is placing himself by waiving counsel."”

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

2. “When appellant announced his intention to proceed without counsel, the lower court was obligated to (1) inform appellant of the benefits he would relinquish and the danger and disadvantages of representing himself, (2) determine whether appellant's choice was made voluntarily and intelligently, and (3) determine whether any unusual circumstances existed which would preclude appellant from exercising his right to represent himself. (citation omitted).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 448 So. 2d 1124 - KM v. State

3. “Self representation is not an absolute right and need not be allowed when it would jeopardize a fair trial on the issues.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 465 So. 2d 1374 - Ashcraft v. State