495 So. 2d 464 - Coates v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

29 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 31 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"In the context of sexual crimes, however, we have long recognized a relaxation of that rule [prohibiting evidence of other crimes]... . [W]e have regarded that substantially similar prior sexual acts with the same person, that is, sexual acts of the same general type as those charged in the indictment," are probative and admissible.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. McGowan v. State · Wilson v. State

2. “The practice of trial by ambush, however savored by the skillful advocate, has long since been discredited. A trial — particularly a criminal trial where one's liberty is at stake — is not a game. It is a purposeful effort to achieve justice, its possibilities of success enhanced in no small measure by a fidelity to procedural fairness. It is in this context that this Court has been required time after time in recent years to reverse criminal convictions because at trial the prosecution was allowed to use evidence which in discovery it was obligated to disclose to the defense but for whatever reason withheld. See, e.g. Henry v. State, 484 So.2d 1012, 1013-14 (Miss. 1986); McKinney v. State, 482 So.2d 1129 (Miss. 1986); Box v. State, 437 So.2d 19, 21 (Miss. 1983); Morris v. State, 436 So.2d 1381, 1385-87 (Miss. 1983).”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Barnwell v. State · 508 So. 2d 1067 - Robinson v. State

3. “RULE 4.06 DISCOVERY (a) The prosecution shall disclose to each defendant or to his attorney, and permit him to inspect, copy, test, and photograph upon request and without further order the following: (1) Names and addresses of all witnesses in chief proposed to be offered by the prosecution at trial; * * * * * * (c) If the defendant requests discovery under this Rule, the defendant shall, subject to constitutional limitations, disclose to the prosecutor and permit him to inspect, copy, test and photograph the following information and material which corresponds to that the defendant sought and which is in the possession or control of the defendant or his counsel; (1) names and addresses of all witnesses in chief proposed to be offered by the defendant at trial; * * * * * * Defense counsel shall make the foregoing disclosures simultaneously with the corresponding disclosure from the prosecutor. * * * * * * (j) If at any time during the course of the proceedings it is brought to the attention of the court that a party has failed to comply with an applicable discovery rule or an order issued pursuant thereto, the court may order such party to permit the discovery of material and information not previously disclosed, grant a continuance, or enter such other order as it deems just under the circumstances. Willful violation by counsel of an applicable discovery rule or an order issued pursuant thereto may subject counsel to appropriate sanctions by the court.”

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