State v. Spearman’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “On the morning of October 23, 1996, a fire occurred at a three family home located at 16 Clover Place in New Haven as a result of arson. Earlier that morning, Katherine Hutchings was walking to a store and witnessed the [petitioner] with Terrance Newton walking toward the area located between 16 and 18 Clover Place. The two men were carrying a large object with a handle that resembled a bucket or jug. Hutchings called out to the [petitioner] and Newton as they went toward the back of the houses to ask them why they were up so early. She continued walking when they did not respond.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 164 Conn. App. 530 - Spearman v. Commissioner of Correction

2. “New Haven Fire Marshal Frank Dellamura also responded to the fire. He discovered four or five areas in 16 Clover Place where gasoline had been poured but did not ignite. Additionally, in three rooms on the first floor, Dellamura found six or seven plastic milk containers that were partially melted with scorch marks near each of them. Dellamura opined that the fire was the result of an arsonist who had attempted to cause an explosion and to burn the house down. Dellamura also opined that because the fire originated in several areas, it must have been set by more than one person.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 164 Conn. App. 530 - Spearman v. Commissioner of Correction

3. “Edith Hunter, who lived at 18 Clover Place, also heard a loud sound that she described as 'a big boom.' Hunter ran to her front porch and saw Newton stumbling and running from the porch of the house that was on fire wearing or carrying a smoldering coat. Although Hunter did not see the [petitioner] running from the house ... 1 she saw the [petitioner] on Clover Place after the fire started, but before the fire department arrived.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 164 Conn. App. 530 - Spearman v. Commissioner of Correction