State v. Jones’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

3 federal appellate · 21 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 31 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “It is defendant’s insistence that the proof introduced was insufficient to establish that the murder of Patrick Daniels was especially heinous, atrocious or cruel and therefore the death penalty was unconstitutionally invoked. He argues that the State must show that he inflicted torture on the victim prior to death or that he committed acts evincing a depraved state of mind. The victim in this case was bound, gagged, and blindfolded with duct tape. He was distressed, crying and begging not to be hurt. Defendant stood over him and stabbed him six times, four times penetrating the heart. He then watched as the victim went into convulsions, blood spewing from his nose and mouth. His accomplice testified, “he was working himself up on a rhythm,” he was “cool” and. “under control.” 1 The victim continued to plead with the defendant as he was being stabbed. ... There is no doubt that the evidence in this case was sufficient to support each of the [three] aggravating circumstances found by the jury.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. Abdur' Rahman v. Bell · 927 F. Supp. 262 - Rahman v. Bell

2. “Defendants assert that the trial judge erred in allowing the State to cross-examine each defendant about the circumstances of the offenses when they testified at the sentencing hearing. We readily agree that this would have been prejudicial error but for the fact that it was invited, if not necessitated, by the direct testimony of the defendants. In testifying during the sentencing phase of the trial, McKay and Sample asserted unequivocally their innocence of the robbery of the Sundry Store and the murders. We agree with the State’s contention that defendants raised a non-statutory mitigating factor that the State was clearly entitled to rebut.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. State v. Teague

3. “it was error to allow the State to cross-examine him at the sentencing hearing on the theory that it required him to testify against himself inconsistently with his defense on the merits. His argument is that he endeavored to convince the jury at the guilt phase of the trial that at most he was guilty of second degree murder. He testified during the sentencing hearing and endeavored to cast an innocent light on the fact that he had committed the homicide.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the concurrence
   e.g. State v. Teague