Arnold v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

20 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 23 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “‘ ‘ The right to punish for contempt, without the intervention of a jury, was recognized, and is fully established by the rule of the common law, and when the exercise of the power is admitted, the fact that a jury may be called in to aid the court in determining the quantum of punishment to be inflicted is in no manner objectionable. While the right to punish is with the court, we are not prepared to say that it is not subject in some degree to legislative control; but, on the contrary, we are inclined to adjudge that a mere arbitrary discretion on the part of the judge may be limited; but an attempt by legislation to deprive the courts of the inherent power of protection against assaults and indignities would be disregarded.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Talbott v. Commonwealth · Richardon v. Commonwealth

2. ““A court shall not, for contempt, impose upon the offender a fine exceeding thirty dollars, or imprison him exceeding thirty hours, without the intervention of a jury.””

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Talbott v. Commonwealth · Richardon v. Commonwealth