State v. Rieflin’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 federal appellate · 7 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 9 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “If at any stage of a criminal proceeding it reasonably appears that the defendant is suffering from a mental disorder which prevents the defendant from appreciating the charge, understanding the proceedings, or assisting effectively in the defense, further proceedings must be suspended and a hearing had upon that question.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Dittmer · In Re Detention of Cubbage

2. “We believe the defense of diminished capacity waived the privilege here, even if it had existed, for the simple reason it would be incongruous to allow a party to put a matter in issue and then deny access of an opposing party to relevant information concerning it. Our modern concept of criminal trials favors full disclosure of facts, within constitutional limitations, on both sides of the table.... Even the most restrictive authorities would say [defendant] would have waived the privilege by introducing evidence on it....”

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

3. “To conclude, the district court did not err in finding Rieflin competent to stand trial. Two competency hearings were held, and each time Rieflin was found to be competent. At the hearings, the district court judge relied on the reports and the testimony of several individuals in concluding that Rieflin could appreciate the charges, understand the proceedings, and assist effectively in his defense.”

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