State v. Lawson’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

2 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 2 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “In the instant case, the police officer’s sole justification for stopping the appellant was the appellant’s presence in a “high crime area” at 2:00 a.m. At least one court has observed that “an area’s propensity toward criminal activity is something that an officer may consider.... The lateness of the hour is another fact that may raise the level of suspicion.” United States v. Lender, 985 F.2d 151, 154 (4th Cir.1993). However, the same court acknowledged and the Supreme Court has held that an individual’s presence in a high crime area, standing alone, is not a basis for concluding that the individual himself is engaged in criminal conduct. Id. [; see also Brown v. Texas, 443 U.S. 47, 52 , 99 S.Ct. 2637 , 61 L.Ed.2d 357 (1979) ]. We conclude, moreover, that the lateness of the hour, without more, does not elevate the facts of this case to the level of reasonable suspicion.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage
   e.g. STATE of Tennessee v. James David MOATS