Commonwealth v. Watson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

8 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 8 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The record is clear that the general charge to the jury adequately covered the presumption of innocence, and the Commonwealth’s burden of proof. In Commonwealth v. McNeal, 456 Pa. 394 at 401 , 319 A.2d 669 at 674 (1974) we said: “[I]n evaluating the correctness of instructions to a jury, the charge must be read and considered in its entirety.” Certainly, there is no need, nor is it desirable, to fully reinstruct a jury each time a specific inquiry is made. In review, we look at all of the instructions given to the jury, taken as a whole, in determining the propriety of the charge. Here, reading and considering the charge in its entirety, we are satisfied that there was no error. Judgment of sentence affirmed.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 311 Pa. Super. 190 - Commonwealth v. Ortiz