Corcoran v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 federal appellate · 48 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 55 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Corcoran’s argument that the trial court did not consider six of the proffered mitigating circumstances is without merit. As the mitigating circumstances were not the focus of our concern, we are not surprised that the trial court’s second order analyzed only those aggravating and mitigating circumstances it found pertinent to the task on remand. The trial judge had in fact analyzed Corcoran’s proffered mitigators in the course of its original sentencing. Our review of the record also persuades us that the trial court properly rejected the remaining factors in the original sentencing order. Corcoran claimed first that his mental disease affected his capacity to appreciate or conform his conduct. As we discuss in greater detail below, the trial court did not err in rejecting it! In a related vein, Corcoran also asked the court to consider the fact that he shielded his young niece from the bloodshed as a mitigator. But this fact cuts both ways. His actions demonstrate a keen awareness of the events that were to follow, and suggest to us that his capacity to appreciate the criminality of his conduct was not inhibited. Third, Corcoran argues that his mental disease prevented him from competently assisting in his defense, stemming primarily from his refusal of favorable plea recommendations offered by the State. The State’s pleas would have kept Corcoran in jail for life, but Corcoran rejected each. He chose instead to exercise his constitutional right to a jury trial, therefore c”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Corcoran v. Neal · Bostick v. State

2. “On July 26, 1997, Corcoran was lying on his bedroom floor and heard men’s voices. He became upset because he thought the men were talking about him and took a semi-automatic rifle downstairs to confront them. In the living room were four men, including Corcor-an’s brother and future brother-in-law, both of whom lived in the house with Corcoran. Corcoran shot and killed Jim Corcor-an, Scott Turner and Timothy Bricker at close range. The final victim, Doug Stillwell, tried to escape, but Corcoran chased him into the kitchen and shot him in the head.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 483 F. Supp. 2d 709 - Corcoran v. Buss

3. “Joseph E. Corcoran was under stress because his sister’s upcoming marriage would necessitate his moving out of her house. And his brother said Corcoran could not move in with him. He awoke one afternoon to hear his brother and others downstairs talking about him. Irritated, he loaded his rifle and went downstairs to intimidate them, but as Corcoran said later, “It just didn’t happen that way.” (R. at 1988.) Corcoran killed his brother, his sister’s flaneé, and two other men in the ensuing incident.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 483 F. Supp. 2d 709 - Corcoran v. Buss