State v. Peterson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

12 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 12 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “One of the issues in this case is the identification of Joseph Quinn as the perpetrator of the crime. On that issue you are instructed as follows: 1. The State has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is the person who committed the crime; 2. It is not essential that the identifying witness be free from doubt as to the correctness of the identification. However, you, the jury, must be satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt of the accuracy of the identification of the defendant before you may return a verdict of guilty. If you are not convinced beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is the person who committed the crime, you must find him not guilty. 3. Identification testimony is an expression of belief or impression by the witness. In appraising identification testimony you should consider the following: A) The opportunity and capacity of the witness to observe the offender at the time of the offense; this is affected by how long or short a time was available, how far or how close the witness was, how good lighting conditions were, whether the witness had occasion to see or know the offender in the past; B) The circumstances of an identification subsequent to the offense; this is affected by the witness’ capacity for recollection, the length of time from the occurrence of the offense to the next opportunity of the witness to make an identification, the number and appearance of other individuals with the defendant when the identification was m”

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

2. “One of the issues in this case is whether the defendant was present at the time and place the offense is alleged to have been committed. On that issue, you are instructed as follows: 1. The State has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant was present at the time and place the offense is alleged to have been committed. 2. If the evidence in this case leaves in your mind a reasonable doubt regarding the defendant’s presence at the time and place the offense is alleged to have been committed then you must find defendant not guilty.”

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

3. ““If you don’t find and believe from the evidence beyond a reasonable doubt that at the time the defendant put his arm around the victim he intended to fondle her breasts, you must find the defendant not guilty of child molestation.””

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