Alexander v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

67 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 71 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““The standard for reviewing the sufficiency of the evidence on appeal is the same for direct and circumstantial evidence cases. Fierro v. State, 706 S.W.2d 310, 313 (Tex.Cr.App.1986); Anderson v. State, 701 S.W.2d 868, 872 (Tex.Cr.App.1985); Brandley v. State, 691 S.W.2d 699, 703 (Tex.Cr.App.1985); Garrett v. State, 682 S.W.2d 301, 304 (Tex.Cr.App.1984); Carlsen v. State, 654 S.W.2d 444, 449 (Tex.Cr.App.1983) (Opinion on Rehearing). The evidence must be viewed in the light most favorable to the verdict, and the standard is whether any rational trier of fact could have found the essential elements of the crime beyond a reasonable doubt. Jackson v. Virginia, 443 U.S. 307 , 99 S.Ct. 2781 , 61 L.Ed.2d 560 (1979); Fierro, supra; Brandley, supra; Jackson v. State, 672 S.W.2d 801, 803 (Tex.Cr.App.1984); Jayroe v. State, 707 S.W.2d 652, 653 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 1986, PDR refused); Hamilton v. State, 699 S.W.2d 576, 577 (Tex.App.—Texarkana 1985, PDR refused). “If the State’s evidence supports an inference other than a finding of the essential elements of the crime, then no trier of fact could rationally find the accused guilty beyond a reasonable doubt — and this is true irrespective of the character of the evidence.” Carlsen, supra, at 449-50 .”

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

2. “[A] conviction based on circumstantial evidence must exclude every other reasonable hypothesis except the guilt of the accused. (Citations omitted.) It is not required that the circumstances should, to a moral certainty, actually exclude every hypothesis that the act may have been committed by another person, but that the hypothesis is a reasonable one consistent with the circumstances and the facts proved. (Citations omitted.) Each fact need not point directly and independently to the guilt of the accused, as the cumulative effect of all the incriminating facts may be sufficient to support the evidence. (Citations omitted.) However, proof which amounts only to a strong suspicion or mere probability is insufficient. (Citations omitted.)”

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

3. “'... the circumstances of the offense and the facts surrounding it may furnish greater probative evidence than any other evidence regarding the probability of future acts of violence.' Alexander v. State, 740 S.W.2d 749, 761 (Tex.Crim.App.1987)”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Woods v. Johnson