State v. Lovick’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

7 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 7 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Louisiana courts have consistently held that a mandatory sentence of life imprisonment for second degree murder does not constitute cruel and unusual punishment. State v. Graham, 422 So.2d 123 (La.1982), appeal dismissed, Graham v. Louisiana, 461 U.S. 950 , 103 S.Ct. 2419 , 77 L.Ed.2d 1309 (1983); State v. Pendelton, 96-367 (La.App. 5 Cir. 5/28/97) , 696 So.2d 144 , writ denied, 97-1714 (La.12/19/97), 706 So.2d 450 ; State v. Hill, 98-1087 (La.App. 5 Cir. 8/31/99) , 742 So.2d 690 , writ denied, 99-2848 (La.3/24/00), 758 So.2d 147 .”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 969 So. 2d 694 - State v. Smith

2. “The reviewing court `does not determine whether another possible hypothesis suggested by a defendant could afford an exculpatory explanation of the events.' Rather, the court must evaluate the evidence in a light most favorable to the state and determine whether the possible alternative is sufficiently reasonable that a rational juror could not have found proof of guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 798 So. 2d 263 - State v. Kirkland

3. “Failing to articulate reasons for the sentence as set forth in La. C.Cr.P. art. 894.1, when imposing a mandatory life sentence is not error. The court has no discretion in imposing a mandatory life sentence and therefore setting forth the factors considered in imposing sentence would be an exercise in futility.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 239 So. 3d 465 - State v. Cox