Best v. Polk’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

19 federal appellate · 6 district · 18 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 75 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “It would be a dangerous doctrine to consider the issuing of a grant as conclusive evidence of right in the power which issued it. On its face it is conclusive, and cannot be controverted; but if the thing granted was not in the grantor, no right .passes to the grantee. A grant has been frequently issued by the United States for land which had been previously granted, and the second grant has been held to be inoperative.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Wright v. Roseberry

2. ““Another objection is taken to the certificate of Edmondson, on the ground that -when it was given his term of office liad expired. This objection cannot be sustained, for the certificate hears date the 2d March, 1849, and he was commissioned to' hold the office of Register ‘during- the term of four years from the 2d day of March, 1845.’ The word ‘from’ always excludes the day of date.” :”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. In re Stevenson

3. “been previously granted, reserved'from sale, or appropriated,”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Doolan v. Carr