State v. Watkins’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

9 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 9 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““Conviction under the reekless-driving statute requires evidence that the defendant has embarked upon a course of conduct which demonstrates a heedless indifference to the consequences of his action. * * * The conduct must have constituted more than mere error in judgment by the driver and more than the negligence necessary to support a civil action for damages. * * * Moreover, the fact that a defendant drove at an excessive speed does not necessarily establish reckless driving. * * * Recklessness must be related to the time, place, persons, and circumstances surrounding them. * * * Thus, excessive speed under some circumstances may be mere negligence but under other circumstances may constitute recklessness.” State v. Watkins, 448 A.2d 1260, 1267 (R.I.1982).”

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

2. ““Among the elements you may consider in connection with determining whether or not a defendant’s conduct was viola-tive of the statute, are weather conditions, road conditions, drinking by a driver, speed of a vehicle, and any other factors which you determine bear upon the question of reckless operation.” (Emphasis added.)”

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