Commonwealth v. Sylvain’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

19 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 19 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “only to determine whether there has been a significant error of law or other abuse of discretion.”

   8 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Commonwealth v. Lys · 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1115 - Commonwealth v. Mohammed

2. “substantial deference ... when the judge passing on the motion is the same judge who heard the plea.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 94 Mass. App. Ct. 1115 - Commonwealth v. Mohammed · 92 Mass. App. Ct. 1131 - Commonwealth v. Dias

3. “A motion to withdraw a guilty plea is treated as a motion for a new trial pursuant to Mass.R.Crim.P. 30(b) [, as appearing in 435 Mass. 1501 (2001) ].”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 92 Mass. App. Ct. 1111 - Commonwealth v. Mercado · 92 Mass. App. Ct. 1131 - Commonwealth v. Dias