Stevens v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

6 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 6 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “‘Finance’ is defined as ‘to raise or provide funds or capital for’ or ‘to furnish with necessary funds.’ WEBSTER’S NINTH NEW COLLEGIATE DICTIONARY 463 (1983). The term ‘funds’ is defined as ‘a sum of money’ or ‘available pecuniary resources.’ Id. at 498. The term ‘invest’ is defined as ‘to commit (money) in order to earn a financial return.’ Id. at 636. Applying these definitions in the context of article 4476-15, section 4.052(a)(2) (now TEX. HEALTH & SAFETY CODE ANN. § 481.126), the statute clearly proscribes an individual from supplying money which that person knows or believes is intended to further the possession of more than fifty pounds of marihuana. The statute provides that the person must intend to further the commission of an unlawful act, for example, the possession of more than fifty pounds of marihuana. When applied to the conduct of appellant, as shown in the record, the terms complained of are not vague at all. ‘Funds,’ ‘invests,’ and ‘finance’ are terms which can be readily understood by a person of common intelligence. We find that a person of ordinary intelligence can determine with reasonable precision what specific conduct is prohibited. We also find that the statute provides sufficient notice to law enforcement personnel so as to prevent arbitrary enforcement.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. Tanner v. State