Watts v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 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 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"Appellant argues that his receiving stolen property conviction should be reversed because the State failed to prove proper venue in Cullman County. Appellant [contends] that the State failed to link him with any unlawful acts in Cullman County where he was indicted and *Page 136 convicted. We disagree with appellant's arguments. "It is true that generally under Alabama Code § 15-2-2 (1975), the venue of all public offenses is the county in which the offense was committed, unless otherwise provided by law. However, Alabama Code § 15-2-9 (1975) a special venue statute dealing with stolen property, which is applicable in this case, provides as follows: "`When property is stolen in one county and carried into another, venue is in either county.' The evidence shows conclusively that the property in question had been stolen in Cullman County and, further, that appellant was possessed of the stolen property. The plain wording of § 15-2-9 demonstrates, therefore, that venue for prosecutions involving that stolen property properly existed in Cullman County. Harper v. State , Ala.Cr.App. 395 So.2d 150 (1981)."”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ex Parte Watts

2. “(I)f a person: * * * Regularly buys, sells, uses or handles in the course of business property of the sort received, and acquired the property without making reasonable inquiry whether the person selling or delivering the property to him had a legal right to do so, this shall be prima facie evidence that he has the requisite knowledge or belief.”

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

3. “(a) A person commits the crime of receiving stolen property if he intentionally receives, retains or disposes of stolen property knowing that it has been stolen or having reasonable grounds to believe it has been stolen, unless the property is received, retained or disposed of with intent to restore it to the owner.”

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