State v. Melville’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

7 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 7 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “The Missouri Supreme Court has held that a defendant has standing to challenge a search or seizure if defendant was on the premises during the search; alleged a propriety or possessory interest in the premises; or was charged with an offense that includes, as an essential element, possession of the seized evidence at the time of the challenged search and seizure. State v. Johnson, 598 S.W.2d 123, 127 (Mo. banc 1980), cert. denied, 449 U.S. 1067 , 101 S.Ct. 795 , 66 L.Ed.2d 611 (1980); see also State v. Lorenzo, 743 S.W.2d 529, 531 (Mo.App.1987). Defendant was charged with trafficking in the second degree, specifically with possession of more than thirty kilograms of marijuana. ... As possession of the marijuana is an essential element of the crime as charged, defendant has standing to challenge the search of the automobile.”

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

2. “‘A lawful search of fixed premises generally extends to the entire area in which the object of the search may be found and is not limited by the possibility that separate acts of entry or opening may be required to complete the search. [ ... ] When a legitimate search is under way, and when its purpose and its limits have been precisely defined, nice distinctions between closets, drawers, and containers, in the case of a home ... must give way to the interest in the prompt and efficient completion of the task at hand.’”

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