State v. . Gilbert’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 district · 5 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. “To hold that a merchant, who, having just purchased a pistol with a view to his trade, and carrying it from one store in a town to another for the purpose of having it packed with other goods, thoughtlessly put it in his pocket, not caring, and not thinking whether it could be seen or not, is guilty of a criminal violation of the laws of his country, is more, we think, than was ever contemplated by those who framed the law upon the subject, and very certainly seems far removed from the mischief that it was intended to remedy.”

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

2. “The law is a wholesome one, and its constant enforcement according to its true spirit and intention meets the desires and expectations of every well disposed and peaceable citizen; but some care should be used, lest by pushing its requirements too far it may result in a reaction of sentiment against it.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. S. v. . Wilkerson