Paul v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

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

1. “It has already been held that the person who owns or exercises dominion or control over a motor vehicle is deemed to be the possessor of any contraband discovered inside it.... The owner of the vehicle in which [the appellant] was riding was seated in the front seat, and another individual was driving. [The appellant] was neither the owner nor the person who had dominion or control of the vehicle. She was a back seat passenger. While the arrests were being made the driver admitted to the detective that he had been smoking marijuana. The detective smelled marijuana and saw marijuana at the driver’s feet. He also observed roaches in the front ashtray. Thus, the detective had probable cause to arrest the driver, but not [the appellant]. Furthermore, a person’s mere presence in the same car with a criminal offender does not authorize an inference of participation in a conspiracy. The probable cause requirement is not satisfied by one’s mere propinquity to others independently suspected of criminal activity. As the arrest violated [the appellant’s] constitutional rights, the evidence against her that was subsequently discovered should have been suppressed.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. Burnett v. Commonwealth

2. “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Crayton v. Commonwealth

3. “The people shall be secure in their persons, houses, papers and possessions, from unreasonable search and seizure; and no warrant shall issue to search any place, or seize any person or thing, without describing them as nearly as may be, nor without probable cause supported by oath or affirmation.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Crayton v. Commonwealth