Phelps v. State’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. ““Although the existence of a motive is not essential to a conviction, nevertheless the presence or absence of a motive for a crime is obviously a factor that is related to the question of the defendant’s guilt or innocence. Consequently, proof of any existing motive for the offense is generally held admissible, . . . ””

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

2. ““Where two or more people take part in the commission of a felony, evidence of the conspiracy is admissible even though the substantive crime of conspiracy is not charged in the indictment.” Phelps v. State, Tex.Cr.App., 462 S.W.2d 310, 311 .”

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

3. ““Evidence of the commission of other crimes by the accused is admissible to show a possible motive for his commission of the crime with which he is charged.””

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