State v. Cameron’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

42 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 42 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “... Defendant misinterprets and misapplies the best evidence rules. When the terms or contents of a writing are in issue, the best evidence rule does require the production of the original writing itself and the rule does reject other evidence unless and until the failure to produce the original was satisfactorily explained. McCormick, Handbook of the Law of Evidence, Chap. 23 (2d Ed. 1972). The obvious purpose of the rule is to prevent fraud and the likelihood of mistake when proving the terms or contents of a writing. See, e.g. F.C. Preuitt Contr. Co., Inc. v. Doty, 536 S.W.2d 908, 914 (Mo.App.1976). However, when the terms and contents of a writing are not in issue, application of the rule serves no meaningful purpose and, the rule serves no meaningful purpose and, does not apply. State v. Curry, 473 S.W.2d 747, 748 (Mo.1971). Wilbom v. Williams, 555 S.W.2d 44, 45-46 (Mo.App.1977). Officer Lloyd’s testimony was not offered to prove the truth of the contents of the radio log, but rather to establish the fact that the alarm sounded at a specific time and for a certain location. These latter facts existed independently of the tapes and logs which recorded the facts. Thus, the best evidence rule is not applicable here. (Our emphasis).”

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

2. “explain, counteract, dispel or disprove a defendant's evidence either directly or by implication,”

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