7 Smith & H. 109 - Roberts v. Roane County’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

36 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 40 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"The authorities cited do not question the general rule, that an unconstitutional statute is not a law, does not of itself confer any rights, duties or obligations, and is `in legal contemplation, as inoperative as though it had never been passed.' ... But it is recognized that parties may so deal with each other upon the faith of such a statute that neither may invoke the aid of the courts to undo what they themselves have done."”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. State ex rel. Eads v. Humphries · Capri Adult Cinema v. State

2. “. Norton v. Shelby County, 118 U.S. 425 6 S.Ct. 1121, 1125 , 30 L.Ed. 178 . But it is recognized that parties may so deal with each other upon the faith of such a statute that neither may invoke the aid of the courts to undo what they themselves have done.'”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Cumberland Capital Corp. v. Patty · Capri Adult Cinema v. State

3. “But by this language the court could only have meant that the third class of counties created by the general act might be divided and a salary provided for the officers in the smaller counties, by a reasonable, but not arbitrary, classification.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Somerville v. McCormick