Williams v. State’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 21 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “unless the error appearing from the record was calculated to injure the rights of the defendant, or unless it appears from the record that the defendant has not had a fair and impartial trial.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Tisdell v. State · Lewis v. Procunier

2. ““Now if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that on or about the 22nd day of December, 1976, in Nue-ces County, Texas, the Defendant, Frank Gonzales, Jr., while in the course of committing theft and with intent to obtain and maintain control of property of Delfi-no Motta, to wit: United States money, did then and there by using and exhibiting a deadly weapon, to wit: a knife that in the manner of its use and intended use was capable of causing death and serious bodily injury, intentionally and knowingly threaten Delfino Motta with imminent bodily injury and death and intentionally and knowingly place Delfino Motta in fear of imminent bodily injury and death, or if you find from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that while in the course of committing theft and with intent to obtain and maintain control of property of Delfino Motta, to wit: United States money, the Defendant caused serious bodily injury to Delfino Motta, then you will find the Defendant guilty of aggravated robbery as charged in the indictment.” [Emphasis supplied.]”

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

3. ““Section 29.02 Robbery “(a) A person commits an offense if, in the course of committing theft as defined in Chapter 31 of this code and with intent to obtain or maintain control of the property, he: “(1) intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly causes bodily injury to another; or “(2) intentionally or knowingly threatens or places another in fear of imminent bodily injury or death. “(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the second degree. “Section 29.03 Aggravated Robbery “(a) A person commits an offense if he commits robbery as defined in Section 29.02 of this code, and he: “(1) causes serious bodily injury to another or; “(2) uses or exhibits a deadly weapon. “(b) An offense under this section is a felony of the first degree.””

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