74 Tex. Crim. 505 - Sorrell v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

15 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 15 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““ Evidence of flight is ordinarily accepted as an indication of guilt and is admissible. So, also, upon the same theory, would be evidence showing or tending to show that appellant had intentionally absented himself from court in order to avoid a trial of his case. The judgment nisi, however, was an ex parte proceeding, having no legal weight or effect except in the matter of the bond forfeiture and legally establishing no conclusion. For these reasons it should not have been admitted. It was taken in the absence of the accused, without an opportunity on his part to be heard on the issue. It was not and could not have been a final adjudication of any fact, and was, therefore as stated, not admissible. The- State, upon this issue, should be confined to evidence of the defendant’s flight or intentional absence and should not be permitted to bolster the same up by an ex parte proceeding of the court.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. People v. Cammarata