State v. Eldredge’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

18 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 18 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““And so it is asserted by excellent authority that Courts instructing juries in criminal cases should make no attempt to define the expression but should merely follow the language of the statute that ‘where there is a reasonable doubt of the defendant being proven guilty, he is entitled to an acquittal,’ or, if there is no such statute, let the words themselves carry their own definition.””

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

2. ““ * * * We cannot too strongly express our disapproval of such a practice. Under the analogous doctrine, in Nicholson v. State, 18 Wyo. 298 , 106 P. 929 , relative to the separation of the jury after being duly sworn in the case, a presumption of prejudice would arise which, if not overcome by -satisfactory proof to the contrary, would entitle the defendant to a new trial. * * * ””

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

3. “courts in the endeavor to explain the expression 'reasonable doubt,”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Ernest Ray Watts v. State