Lopez v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

16 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 16 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In his final ground of error appellant argues that the trial court erred in failing to grant a pre-trial motion for continuance. The motion argued that a delay should be granted because of publicity of a case in Travis County where a student allegedly shot and killed his junior high school teacher. Appellant contends that this adverse publicity tainted the jury panel. The motion was urged before the selection of the jury, but no witnesses were heard in support of the contentions advanced. Counsel for appellant also stated to the trial court that he would re-urge the motion during voir dire if it appeared that the incident tainted the jury panel. We find no evidence that the motion was subsequently raised and the record shows that upon request of appellant’s counsel, the voir dire examination was not typed and included in the record. Included in appellant’s written motion was a copy of a newspaper article concerning the Travis County incident. Appellant’s name did not appear in the clipping and there is no showing that any of the prospective jurors read and were prejudiced by the article. Chamberlain v. State, 453 S.W.2d 490 (Tex.Cr.App.). The motion was addressed to the discretion of the trial court and no abuse of that discretion has been demonstrated. Nelson v. State, 505 S.W.2d 271 (Tex.Cr.App.).”

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

2. “We must have, in a contemporary society, a return to the basic principles of law and order. In this case, perhaps more than any other, demonstrates the kind of conduct that threatens the very basic structure of the community in which we reside, [sic] It threatens our schools. The next step, if persons can escape criminal conduct on this type of evidence that has been produced, it will threaten our homes. This evil, this growing evil, it must be challenged.”

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

3. ““It shall be the primary duty of all prosecuting attorneys, including any special prosecutor, not to convict, but to see that justice is done. They shall not suppress facts or secrete witnesses capable of establishing the innocence of the accused.””

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