Roy v. United States’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 district · 30 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 32 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[I]t is essential that the defendant present enough information — regarding the nature of the testimony he wishes to give on one count and his reasons for not wishing to testify on the other — to satisfy the court that the claim of prejudice is genuine and to enable it intelligently to weigh the considerations of “economy and expedition in judicial administration” against defendant’s interest in having a free choice with respect to testifying.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Garcia v. United States · Workman v. United States

2. ““Natural” has many meanings, but the most apposite dictionary definition is “in accordance with or determined by nature.” A natural consequence is thus one which is within the normal range of outcomes that may be expected to occur if nothing unusual has intervened. We need not define “probable,” except to note that, even standing alone, this adjective sets a significantly more exacting standard than the word “possible.” Accordingly, if we accord to the words of our cases their ordinary everyday meaning, it is not enough for the prosecution to show that the accomplice knew or should have known that the principal might conceivably commit the offense which the accomplice is charged ....”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 172 N.C. App. 649 - State v. Bellamy