984 So. 2d 503 - Phillips v. State’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

1 federal appellate · 14 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 16 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “Phillips supported himself. He worked as short-order cook, a garbage collector, and a dishwasher. The mental health experts generally agreed that Phillips possessed job skills that people with mental retardation lacked. Specifically, the defense’s expert admitted that Phillips’s position as a short-order cook was an “unusually high level” job for someone who has mental retardation. Phillips also functioned well at home. He resided with his mother. According to her, he paid most of the bills and did the majority of the household chores. Phillips was also described as a great son, brother, and uncle. Phillips purchased a new car for his mother and a typewriter for his sister. He spent a lot of time with his nieces and nephews, and “was real good with them.” Phillips often kept the children overnight, took them for ice cream, and would give them rides when needed. In addition to driving, Phillips cooked and went grocery shopping, skills that are indicative of the ability to cope with life’s common demands.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 55 So. 3d 515 - Hodges v. State

2. “To commit the crime, Phillips, having discovered that his parole officer was generally the last to leave the office, lay in wait behind dumpsters outside of the building. When the parole officer emerged and there were no witnesses present, Phillips unloaded his gun into the officer. He reloaded the gun and shot the parole officer three more times. Phillips then retrieved the shell casings from the ground, fled the scene, and disposed of the gun. After he was apprehended, officers tried on several occasions to interview Phillips, but he refused to speak.”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 55 So. 3d 515 - Hodges v. State

3. “A CCP killing demonstrates `that the defendant had a careful plan or prearranged design to commit murder before the fatal incident ...; that the defendant exhibited heightened premeditation.'”

   1 later decision quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. 995 So. 2d 247 - San Martin v. State