Brodnax v. Groom’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 federal appellate · 49 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 59 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “except for a special purpose and with the special approval of the General Assembly.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Williams v. Commissioners of Craven County · Barksdale v. . Comrs. of Sampson County

2. “We are of opinion that the ratification certified by the Lieutenant Governor and the Speaker of the House of Representatives makes it a `matter of record,' which cannot be impeached before the courts in a collateral way. Lord Coke says, `A record until reversed importeth verity.' There can be no doubt that acts of the Legislature, like judgments of courts, are matters of record, and (236) the idea that the verity of the record can be averred against in a collateral proceeding is opposed to all of the authorities. The courts must act on the maxim, `Omnia presumuntur,' etc. Suppose an act of Congress is returned by the President with his objection, and the Vice-President and Speaker of the House certify that it is passed afterwards by the constitutional majority, is it open for the courts to go behind the record and hear proof to the contrary?”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Carr v. . Coke

3. ““We clo not tbink it necessary to enter into the question whether this is a public local act, or a mere private act, in regard to which thirty clays’ notice of the application must be given; for, taking it to be a mere private act, we are of opinion that the ratification certified by the lieutenant governor and the speaker of the house of representatives, makes it a matter of record, which cannot be impeached before the courts in a collateral way. Lord Oolce says, ‘A record, until reversed, importeth verity.’ * * * The courts must act on the maxim, ‘Omnia presuniuntur.’ ””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Coler v. Board of Com'rs of Stanly County