Lawson v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

4 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 4 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “While criminal defendants have the right to a reasonable opportunity to select and be represented by chosen counsel, and the right to a preparation period sufficient to assure at least a minimal quality of counsel, the right is not absolute but at some point must bend before countervailing interests involving effective administration of the courts. Thus, when a defendant asks for a continuance on the eve of trial in order to allow time for recently retained counsel to prepare, the court must balance that request against many other factors....”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 75 So. 3d 1277 - Ramos v. State

2. “Had [the defendant] not repeatedly discharged his prior attorneys or caused them to withdraw, none of whom the court found were rendering ineffective assistance, there would have been ample time to prepare. [The defendant] played a prominent role in shortening the preparation time for trial.... [The defendant] reached the point where his right to adequate time for preparation for trial is counterbalanced by the right to the effective administration of justice. His own actions were responsible for the lack of adequate preparation time, if any.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. 75 So. 3d 1277 - Ramos v. State

3. “given the very strong DNA evidence connecting”

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