State v. Williams’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

14 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 15 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “1. A person is justified in using a reasonable degree of nondeadly force upon another person in order to defend himself or a 3rd person from what he reasonably believes to be the imminent use of unlawful, nondeadly force by such other person, and he may use a degree of such force which he reasonably believes to be necessary for such purpose. However, such force is not justifiable if: A. With a purpose to cause physical harm to another person, he provoked the use of unlawful, nondeadly force by such other person; or B. He was the initial aggressor, unless after such aggression he withdraws from the encounter and effectively communicates to such other person his intent to do so, but the latter notwithstanding continues the use or threat of unlawful, non-deadly force .... 2. A person is justified in using deadly force upon another person: A. When the person reasonably believes it necessary and reasonably believes such other person is: (1)About to use unlawful, deadly force against the person or a 3rd person .... C.However, a person is not justified in using deadly force as provided in paragraph A, if: (1) With the intent to cause physical harm to another, he provokes such other person to use unlawful deadly force against anyone; or (2) He knows that the person against whom the unlawful deadly force is directed intentionally and unlawfully provoked the use of such force; or (3) He knows that he or a 3rd person can, with complete safety (a) retreat from the encounter ....”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Glassman · State v. Clisham

2. “Obviously, the threat of firing a gun in the direction of another person without actually doing so cannot be equated with the actual discharge of that weapon. There exists a critical difference in the causative character of the actual discharge of a pistol and an act, such as loading the pistol or pointing it, in a threatening manner, which is merely preparatory to its discharge.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Cannell · State v. Glassman

3. “[a] threat to cause death or serious bodily harm, by the production of a weapon or otherwise, so long as the actor's purpose is limited to creating an apprehension that he will use deadly force if necessary, does not constitute deadly force....”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Moore · 672 So. 2d 865 - Stewart v. State