Wells v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

23 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 23 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““He might have impeached the finding by disproof of the fact thus alleged; that is, it was open to him to show that his true name was known, and, showing which, the indictment would not have supported a conviction. But he did not do this. What he did was to_ show, not that the jury knew, but that with reasonable inquiry they might have known, his true name. This was insufficient and a charge requested, which predicated his right to an acquittal on the failure of the jury to make diligent inquiry in this behalf, was properly refused.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 21 Ala. App. 517 - Hendrix v. State

2. ““The plea of not guilty was an admission that the name by which the defendant was indicted was his true name and a waiver of the misnomer, if, in fact, the indictment was originally open to that objection, whether that advantage is sought to be taken of it on the trial, as by a request for an instruction on the point, or, after verdict, by a motion in arrest of judgment” (citing Miller v. State, 54 Ala. 155).”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 21 Ala. App. 517 - Hendrix v. State