Hill v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

5 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 5 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Sections 893.135 and 893.20, Florida Statutes (1989), provide that the minimum sentences contained therein shall “not be suspended, deferred, or withheld.” Also, sections 893.135 and 893.20 expressly refer to their sentences as “mandatory.” There is no similar restriction in section 893.13(l)(e), and the word mandatory is not used. The omission of this language implies that the legislature intended a different construction, allowing trial judges greater discretion in sentencing decisions under section 893.13(l)(e). (Footnote omitted).”

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

2. “[t]he inclusion in section 893.135 of the proscription against suspending, deferring or withholding the mandatory penalty reflects a legislative intent to strengthen the punishment for large scale drug trafficking.”

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

3. “[t]he personal acquisition and consumption of illegal drugs differs sharply . . . from the peddling of such drugs for profit”

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