Knotts v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

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

1. “THE COURT: Are you the same Mr. Randall who the officers have alleged was present the night that this actually was supposed to have occurred? [RANDALL]: That’s right. THE COURT: All right. After listening to Mr. — the officer’s testimony — and not saying whether I believe or disbelieve it — but I think you’re placing yourself in the position — I don’t know what your testimony is going to be. But you might be subject to being — the district attorney filing on you for committing perjury if you testify to something different than what the officer testified to, and I’m not saying whether that’s right or wrong. Just giving you your rights. You do not have to testify. But I’ve got a lawyer standing by here who would be glad to talk to you about your rights. You want to talk to him about it before you testify? [RANDALL]: Which one? THE COURT: Sir? No, this lawyer here represents the defendant. He can’t represent you. That might be a conflict of interest. You understand what I’m telling you? They may be filing on you for a criminal offense if you testify to something different from what the State thinks occurred. [PROSECUTOR]: May I? THE COURT: I want to be sure he understands what I’m telling him first. [RANDALL]: Yeah, I understand. THE COURT: Do you want to waive your Fifth Amendment right and go ahead and testify? I’ve got a lawyer standing here that can talk to you about that if you want to talk to a lawyer about it. [RANDALL]: Well, I’m just going to tell what— THE COURT: Sir? ”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Knotts v. Quarterman

2. “On September 11, 1999, Houston Police Officer David Bearden [ (“Bear-den”) ] was working as an undercover narcotics officer. While Bearden was driving along a city street looking for street dealers, he saw a man, Tealzie Randall [ (“Randall”) ], standing near the curb. Bearden pulled up to the curb and asked Randall where he could buy some “weed.” Randall got in Bearden’s pickup truck and the conversation quickly diverted from marijuana to cocaine. Bearden told Randall that he would purchase $50 of cocaine if he could get it “wholesale.” Bearden was directed to drive to a nearby house. Randall got out of Bearden’s car and went to the door, but returned after learning the occupant did not have enough cocaine on hand to complete the transaction. Bear-den was then directed by Randall to drive to another location where they came upon appellant [Knotts] sitting in an automobile. Bearden gave Randall the money. Randall approached appellant and spoke to him a short while. Randall returned to Bearden with the money and said appellant wanted to move to another location to complete the sale. Bearden drove, as instructed, to the parking lot of a nearby convenience store. Appellant followed in his car and parked nearby. Randall exited Bear-den’s truck with the money and walked over to appellant’s vehicle. Bearden watched as Randall got in appellant’s vehicle; the two men appeared to make an exchange. Randall then exited appellant’s car and returned to Bearden’s truck with four “rocks” of”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Knotts v. Quarterman