State v. Murdock’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

29 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 29 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"the legality of a sentence under K.S.A. 22-3504 is controlled by the law in effect at the time the sentence was pronounced. The legality of a sentence is fixed at a discrete moment in time-the moment the sentence was pronounced. At that moment, a pronounced sentence is either legal or illegal according to then-existing law. Therefore, for purposes of a motion to correct an illegal sentence, neither party can avail itself of subsequent changes in the law." 309 Kan. at 591 , 439 P.3d 307 .”

   19 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Newton · State v. Bryant

2. “is stuck with the law in effect at the time the sentence was pronounced.”

   8 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Obregon · – State v. Williams –

3. “true changes in the law cannot transform a once legal sentence into an illegal sentence,”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Gales · State v. Weber