81 Ill. App. 3d 314 - In Re Devine’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

30 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 30 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"Appellants err in concluding that only a parent who is at fault may be found unfit. We assume that by `at fault' appellants mean to imply the imposition of blame because the actor knew or should have known the consequences of his act or omission. In the grounds of unfitness set forth in subsection D of section 1 of the Adoption Act (Ill. Rev. Stat. 1977, ch. 40, par. 1501D) nowhere appear such words as `wilful,' `intentional,' `knowingly,' `negligently' or any other word relating to the state of mind or will of the unfit person. * * * Thus a parent can be unfit without fault. * * * A child is no less exposed to danger, no less dirty or hungry because his parent is unable rather than unwilling to give him care." 81 Ill. App.3d 314 , 319-20, 401 N.E.2d 616 , 620-21.”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 85 Ill. App. 3d 229 - People v. Edmonds · 146 Ill. App. 3d 523 - People v. J.B.