512 So. 2d 231 - Little v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 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 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The validity of Little’s sentence and the reasons for departure from the sentencing guidelines were raised and determined on direct appeal. This would ordinarily be thought to place these issues at rest. We are mindful that sentences which have been rendered illegal by subsequent decisions of the supreme court are subject to collateral attack by rule 3.850 motion, see Hall v. State, 511 So.2d 1038 (Fla. 1st DCA 1987); therefore, the stated basis for the trial court’s ruling is probably no longer sound. We conclude, however, that Little’s motion is facially insufficient to warrant any relief. It does not identify the specific reasons recited for departure by the trial judge and relate each such reason to a supreme court decision holding that specific reason invalid. The motion wholly fails to demonstrate any basis for concluding that Little’s sentence has been rendered illegal by subsequent supreme court decisions.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 533 So. 2d 296 - Little v. State