492 So. 2d 661 - Brown v. State’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. “[t]here is a prima facie presumption against error when a trial judge promptly charges the jury to disregard improper remarks.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Kelley v. State · 564 So. 2d 74 - Smelley v. State

2. “"[H]ere it was 'entirely relevant and competent' to show that [the defendant] had been drinking or using drugs immediately prior to the time of the [offense]. . . . This is but a specific application of the general rule that 'antecedent circumstances tending to shed light on the transaction or elucidate the facts or show preparation to commit the crime are always admissible in evidence.' Ellis v. State , 244 Ala. 79 , 86 , 11 So.2d 861 (1943); Coats v. State , 253 Ala. 290 , 296 , 45 So.2d 35 (1950) (State properly allowed to show on cross examination of defense witness that shortly before shooting, defendant looked like he had been drinking since it shed light on mental condition of defendant at time he killed deceased). 'Immediately' is a relative term meaning 'without interval of time.' Mitchell v. State , 210 Ala. 457 , 98 So. 285 (1923) (evidence that accused was continuously drunk for two weeks before murder admissible)."”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 659 So. 2d 933 - Hunt v. State