Wells v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

8 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 8 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “[P]ursuant to section 47 — 7—3(l)(d)(ii), a person convicted of armed robbery can never be eligible for parole, it follows that he may not accrue trusty or earned time pursuant to sections 47-5-138.1(2)(d) and 47-5-139(l)(e), respectively. It would be “an absurdity” were this Court to hold that a prisoner who is permanently ineligible for parole may be allowed to accrue earned-time credits and therefore receive the benefit of a shortened sentence.”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage
   e.g. Neal v. MDOC Records Department · 4 So. 3d 361 - Robinson v. State

2. “Where a defendant pleads guilty to a crime, sentencing is within the complete discretion of the trial court and not subject to appellate review if it is within the limits prescribed by statute. Further, the general rule in this state is that a sentence cannot be disturbed on appeal so long as it does not exceed the maximum term allowed by statute.”

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

3. “[P]rior to the enactment of section 47-7-3(1)(d)(ii), persons convicted of armed robbery could be eligible for parole after serving ten years of their sentence. However, it is clear that such felons are now completely ineligible for parole.”

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