Williams v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

14 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 14 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““In passing upon this question we have the rules stated in Trapp v. Shell Oil Co., 145 Tex. 323 , 198 S.W.2d 424 (1946), to guide us: “ ‘This Court, in testing the constitutionality of a statute, has variably stated the rule as follows: ‘“Ashford v. Goodwin, 103 Tex. 491 , 131 S.W. 535, 537 , Ann.Cas.1913A, 699: “This court must sustain it unless its invalidity be apparent beyond a reasonable doubt.” “‘State v. Hogg, 123 Tex. 568 , 70 S.W.2d 699 ; on rehearing 123 Tex. 568 , 72 S.W.2d 593 : “ * * * the rule is that every possible presumption is in favor of the constitutionality of a statute, and such presumption obtains until the contrary is shown beyond a reasonable doubt.” “ ‘It is stated in the case of Brown v. City of Galveston, 97 Tex. 1 , 75 S.W. 488 , loc.cit. 492: “If there be doubt as to the validity of the law, it is due to the co-ordinate branch of the government that its action should be upheld and its decision accepted by the judicial department.” ’ ””

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

2. ““We hold that Section 11 of this Act is in the nature of an affirmative defense, and the burden was upon defendant both to allege and prove the essential facts in order to take advantage of such defense. ... An uninterrupted line of cases hold the burden of proof is also upon a defendant to establish a statutory exclusion of liability.””

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