Mercer v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 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 3 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[a]ny delay in dismissing the case merely so the circuit court could denominate its order as a judgment would thwart the purposes of Missouri's post-conviction rules in that it would not lead to a prompt resolution of Mercer's claim or ensure the legality of his conviction and sentence.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Watson v. State

2. “The docket entry stated: 'Cause called. Mercer's Post Conviction Motions Seeking Forensic DNA Testing overruled and denied.'”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Watson v. State

3. “to process prisoners' claims promptly, prevent the litigation of stale claims, and to ensure the legality of a sentence.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Watson v. State