Palmer v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

24 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 24 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “We are cited to numerous cases where it has been held that a failure of the court to state a pertinent legal principle, when it has not been requested, is not error; as for instance, a failure to define the terms, “malice,” “reasonable doubt,” or the like. But the distinction is plain. If counsel desire to have the jury instructed more in detail than the court may deem necessary, they must ask for such instructions; otherwise it is reasonable to presume they concurred with the court in the opinion that the jury was sufficiently informed as to such matters.”

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

2. “Every man has a right to pursue his peaceful avocations in his own house and about his own premises, unmolested by threats or violence, or unlawful interference by any other person or persons ; and if, while pursuing these avocations, he is violently attacked in a manner indicating a purpose to perpetrate a known felony upon him, such as murder, mayhem, or the like, under such circumstances he is not obliged to retreat, but may pursue his adversary until he has freed himself from all danger.”

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

3. “the law does not require that [a person in his own home] shall avoid the necessity by retreating before his assailant. His house is his castle, and when it is invaded he is deemed to be 'at the wall,' and no further retreat is required.”

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