Saylor v. Commonwealth’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

36 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 38 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. ““When the accused goes upon the witness stand to testify for himself he may be subjected to the same kind of cross-examination as he would be were he not a defendant. His testimony can be impeached in the same manner as that of any other witness. He is subject to the same rules and is not deprived of any of the privileges that belong to other witnesses. He goes upon the stand to admit or deny his guilt, or to give such facts as may excuse or mitigate the offense, or such as may convict him of the offense with which he is charged, as the facts which he discloses may establish. His testimony can only relate to the offense with which he stands charged.””

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Maiden v. Commonwealth

2. ““Under the bill of rights he cannot be compelled ‘to give evidence against himself,’ but when he becomes a witness for himself in a criminal prosecution he waives that right so far as the charge under investigation is concerned. The fact that he does so waive it does not give the commonwealth the right to compel him to admit the commission of other offenses which would subject him to punishment, presentment or infamy. ’ ’”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Maiden v. Commonwealth