Woods v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 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 4 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““[i]n ‘reckless’ or ‘universal malice’ murder, ‘the defendant evinces a culpable mind, determined to act no matter what the consequences to others. He must have determined to follow a course of action which he knows, or should know, will, in all probability, lead to harm to another.’ Napier v. State, 357 So.2d 1011, 1014 (Ala.1978). ‘The word “determines” presupposes that some mental operation has taken place; the reasoning faculty must be called into play.’ Langford v. State, 354 So.2d 313, 315 (Ala.1977). “ ‘In providing that homicide committed “recklessly under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to human life” constitutes murder, the drafters of the model code were attempting to define a degree of recklessness “that cannot be fairly distinguished from homicides committed purposely or knowingly.” Model Penal Code and Commentaries, § 210.02, Comment, 4 (1980).’ “Ex parte Weems, 463 So.2d at 172 .””

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

2. ““‘[T]he use of the deadly weapon to commit the underlying felony is the classic situation intended by the legislature to invoke the enhanced penalty.’ McCree, 554 So.2d at 341 .””

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