869 So. 2d 1196 - Bolin v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 federal appellate · 16 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 19 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Matthews’ body was discovered on December 5, 1986, near the side of a road in rural Pasco County. The body was found wrapped in a sheet imprinted with a St. Joseph’s Hospital logo. The body had multiple head injuries, was shoeless, and was wet, although it had not rained recently. The victim’s car keys were found close to the body. Evidence collected from the scene included nylon pantyhose and a pair of white pants. There was a single set of truck tire tracks leading to the body. The victim’s car was found the next day by Mat thews’ boyfriend, Gary McClelland, who was worried about her disappearance and attempted to trace her steps after she left work the previous day. The victim’s red Honda was found parked at the Land O’ Lakes Post Office, with its headlights still on. The victim’s mail was found scattered on the ground, and her purse was found undisturbed on the seat inside her car. Bolin’s half-brother, Phillip, testified that he was awakened by Bolin on the night of December 4, 1986. Bolin appeared to be nervous and told Phillip that he needed Phillip’s help. The two walked outside, and then Phillip heard a moaning sound, which he thought could have been a wounded dog. Instead, he saw a sheet-wrapped body, and Bolin told him that the girl was shot near the Land O’ Lakes Post Office. Bolin then walked over and straddled the body with his feet, raised a wooden stick with a metal end, and hit the body several times. Phillip said that he turned away because he was scared to ”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. In re Bolin · 184 So. 3d 492 - Oscar Ray Bolin, Jr. v. State of Florida

2. “This Court must review the proportionality of a death sentence, even if the issue has not been raised by the defendant.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Walker v. State · Tanzi v. State