Williams v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

45 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 46 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “a defendant who willingly enters a plea of guilty has extended a substantial benefit to the state and deserves to have a substantial benefit extended to him in return.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Scheckel v. State · Francis v. State

2. “any other circumstances appropriate for consideration”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. Daniels v. State · Boyd v. State

3. “"[The necessary standards and guidance are found by looking at our criminal statutes and procedural rules in their entirety. Indiana's general sentencing hearing statute requires, in all cases where there are aggravating circumstances present, that the sentencing judge include a written statement of the reasons for selecting the sentence he imposes. Ind.Code § 35-4.1-4-3 (Burns § 35-50-1A-8, 1979 Repl.). Our death penalty statute requires that the jury may recommend the death penalty only if it unanimously finds beyond a reasonable doubt that at least one of the enumerated aggravating circumstances does exist, and that the mitigating circumstances, if any, do not outweigh the aggravating circumstances. Ind.Code § 85-50-2-9(e) (Burns 1979 Repl.) The trial court, who then makes the final determination of the sentence to be imposed, must consider the jury's ree-ommendation and must also base his decision on the same standards that the jury was required to consider,. Id. Finally, every sentence of death is subject to automatic, expedited review by this Court. Ind.Code § 85-50-2-9(h) (Burns 1979 Rept.). This review is thorough and adequate since we have before us the entire record of the proceedings, including the complete record of the sentencing hearing and the trial court's written statement of the reasons for the sentence imposed. Brewer v. State, supra; Judy v. State, supra. This sentencing procedure gives clear and specific guid ance to the sentencing authority and adequatel”

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