State v. Cunningham’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

39 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 39 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “courts must endeavor to give an interpretation that will give them effectiveness and purpose, rather than one which makes them meaningless.”

   5 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. City of New Orleans v. ASSESSORS'RETIREMENT AND RELIEF FUND · 975 So. 2d 646 - State v. Pearson

2. “[T]he statutes at issue provide a party with notice that a certificate of analysis will be offered into evidence absent an objection. These statutes are a formalized means of effectuating a stipulation to the admissibility of matters which often are not in dispute. After the State has put the defendant on notice, the statute provides the defendant with a small procedural step which must be taken to exercise the right to confrontation. In essence, it is the defendant’s decision which dictates whether the State must produce the individual who prepared the report or whether the defendant will agree to use of the criminalist’s report.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. State v. Simmons · Magruder v. Com.

3. “In all criminal cases * * * the courts of this state shall receive as evidence any certificate made in accordance with R.S. 15:499 subject to the conditions contained in this Section and R.S. 15:501. The certificate shall be received in evidence as prima facie proof of the facts shown thereon, and as prima facie proof of proper custody of the physical evidence listed thereon from time of delivery of said evidence to the facility until its removal therefrom.”

   3 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the dissent
   e.g. 49 So. 3d 5 - State v. Beauchamp · 67 So. 3d 525 - State v. Simmons