Ransom v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

15 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 15 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “We believe that bare hands and feet can not ordinarily be dangerous weapons. It is true that a blow with a bare hand or foot can cause serious bodily injury under certain circumstances. However, since Alaska does not have an aggravated assault statute such a blow by an ordinary person must be classified as a misdemean- or assault. If a person were wearing a soft leather glove a. blow from his fist could still cause serious bodily injury; yet the possibility of injury would not be attributable to the use of the glove but rather to the fist itself. Such a case would still be a misdemeanor assault For the crime of assault with a dangerous weapon to be shown, it must appear that the use of the weapon, rather than just the blow, had the capability of producing serious bodily injury considering the manner in which it was used. Thus, we believe that most types of ordinary wearing apparel cannot be dangerous weapons. Yet, under some circumstances a heavy-soled boot such as used in the Berfield case [Berfield v. State, 458 P.2d 1008 (Alaska 1969)], could be a dangerous weapon. As we stated in Berfield, whether an object is a dangerous weapon depends upon the object’s capability for harm considering the manner of its use. If nothing is known of the object’s physical characteristics, its capability for harm cannot be reasonably determined.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Wettanen v. State · Wettanen v. State

2. “In Alaska the legislature has abolished the distinction between principals in the first and second degree and accessories before the fact. Under a similar statute federal courts unanimously agree that one indicted as a principal may be convicted of the crime on evidence which shows that he merely aided and abetted. In those states that have abolished the common law distinction between principals and accessories before the fact, the same rule prevails. 9 (footnotes omitted)”

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