State v. Johnson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

65 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 66 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “When a law is clear and unambiguous and its application does not lead to absurd consequences, the law shall be applied as written and no further interpretation may be made in search of the intent of the legislature.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. FNB OF PICAYUNE v. Pearl River Fabricators · Britt v. Riceland Petroleum Co.

2. “Any person who, after having been convicted within this state of a felony ... thereafter commits any subsequent felony.”

   4 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. 907 So. 2d 154 - State v. Dorsey · 890 So. 2d 711 - State v. Lowery

3. “cannot be extended by analogy so as to create crimes not provided for herein; however, in order to promote justice and to effect the objects of the law, all of its provisions shall be given a genuine construction, according to the fair import of their words, taken in their usual sense, in connection with the context, and with reference to the purpose of the provision.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Fussell · 969 So. 2d 1233 - State v. Shaw