State v. Hughes’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. “The state conceded it had the information on prospective jurors' criminal records and intended to use it in selecting the jury. Also, defendant asserts he could not practicably obtain the criminal records of the 230 prospective jurors from other sources. Defendant therefore argues that this nonreciprocal advantage of the state offended his due process right to a fair trial. The trial judge denied defendant's motion for disclosure but permitted defendant to question the prospective jurors about their convictions, if any, but not about their arrests. The criminal records of prospective jurors may be useful to the state in its desire to challenge jurors with inclinations or biases against the state. But they are not pertinent to the purpose of defendant's voir dire: to challenge jurors whom defendant believes will not approach the verdict in a detached and objective manner. Whatever the practical desire of trial counsel, the recognized purpose of full voir dire is not to pack the jury with persons favorable to the defendant or to the state. Under the circumstances of this case, defendant was not entitled to disclosure of the criminal records. Hence, the trial judge did not err in denying defendant's motion for disclosure.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 493 So. 2d 842 - State v. Cathey

2. “Since the voir dire, selection of the jury and the trial have all occurred, the defense counsel cannot exercise his right. He must now show that by not obtaining the information on the jurors he was actually prejudiced. There is no showing that the defense was actually prejudiced by not having the information.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 493 So. 2d 842 - State v. Cathey

3. “[u]ntil defense counsel actually attempts to question the jurors and until he actually finds them to be alienated toward his client, his claim is premature.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 493 So. 2d 842 - State v. Cathey