Harris v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 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 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"It has long been recognized that the trial judge has the right to ask witnesses questions, when deemed necessary, to elicit relevant and material evidence. See Berry v. State , 408 So.2d 548 (Ala.Crim.App. 1981), cert. denied , 408 So.2d 551 (Ala. 1982); Sprinkle v. State , 368 So.2d 554 (Ala.Crim.App. 1978). cert. quashed , 368 So.2d 565 (Ala. 1979); Satterwhite v. State , 364 So.2d 345 (Ala.Crim.App. 1977), rev'd on other grounds , 364 So.2d 359 (Ala. 1978). In conducting such examinations, however, the trial judge must not depart from a standard of fairness and impartiality. Berry; Sprinkle . "`The judicial power to examine a witness should be carefully exercised so as not to prejudice the accused, and questions by the court which assume the prisoner's guilt, or which assume the witness is testifying falsely, or which give the jury the impression that the court has determined that the accused is guilty, furnish a basis for reversal.' " Holmes v. State , 22 Ala. App. 373 , 374 , 115 So. 849 (1928). . . . See also Wilson."”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 813 So. 2d 799 - Vrocher v. State