State v. Chase in Winter’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

19 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 19 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[T]he sentencing court should acquire a thorough acquaintance with the character and history of the man before it. This study should examine a defendant’s general moral character, mentality, habits, social environment, tendencies, age, aversion or inclination to commit crime, life, family, occupation, and previous criminal record.”

   6 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Knecht · State v. Lemley

2. “acquire a thorough acquaintance with the character and history of the [person] before it.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State v. Ross · State v. Bonner

3. “First, is the punishment so excessive or so cruel, “as to meet the disapproval and condemnation of the conscience and reason of men generally.” And second, whether the punishment is so excessive or so cruel as to shock the collective conscience of this court.”

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