Commonwealth v. Torres’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. “A judge is required to conduct an evidentiary hearing on a motion for a new trial only if a substantial issue is raised by the motion or affidavits.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Commonwealth v. Pina · Commonwealth v. McCants

2. “[t]he judge must make findings of fact necessary to resolve the defendant's allegations of error of law in a motion for a new trial.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 92 Mass. App. Ct. 1127 - Commonwealth v. Portillo · 95 Mass. App. Ct. 257 - Commonwealth v. Melo

3. “[A] judge considers the seriousness of the issues raised and the adequacy of the defendant's showing on those issues.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Commonwealth v. Pina · Commonwealth v. Barry