William L. v. Michelle P.’s Empirical Analysis

Citation profile

20 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 20 citing decisions cite the case generally; a passage count includes only decisions quoting that exact language verbatim.

1. “"Likewise, Mississippi appears to have a `closer connection with the child and his family or with the child and one or more contestants'... . The repetition of `child' is apparently intentional and requires a separate analysis of which state has a closer connection with the infant subjects of the proceeding, apart from its connection with the other participants. This is consistent with the emphasis in the entire statute on encouraging a selection of the forum in the optimum position to determine the best interests of the child. While New York and Mississippi each have roughly equal connections with one parent, New York really has had only scant contact with the children since they left the State shortly after the divorce was granted in 1974 — a sum total of three summer visitation periods before the petition was filed... . Mississippi, on the other hand, has been the state of continuous residence of the children since January, 1977. It, and not New York, has the primary parens patriae interest, and the more substantial nexus." (citations omitted; emphasis in original).”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Voninski v. Voninski · Szmyd v. Szmyd

2. “(b) it is in the best interest of the child that a court of this state assume jurisdiction because (i) the child and his parents, or the child and at least one contestant, have a significant connection with this state, and (ii) there is within the jurisdiction of the court substantial evidence concerning the child’s present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships;”

   2 later decisions quote this exact passage · from the majority
   e.g. Bills v. Murdock · Voninski v. Voninski

3. “"(c) In determining if it is an inconvenient forum, the court shall consider if it is in the interest of the child that another state assume jurisdiction. For this purpose it may take into account the following factors, among others: (1) if another state is or recently was the child's home state; (2) if another state has a closer connection with the child and his family or with the child and one or more of the contestants; (3) if better evidence concerning the child's present or future care, protection, training, and personal relationships is available in another state; (4) if the parties have agreed on another forum which is not less appropriate; and (5) if the exercise of jurisdiction by a court of this state would contravene any of the purposes stated in sec. 10 of this chapter. (d) Before determining whether to decline or retain jurisdiction the court may communicate with the court of another state and exchange information pertinent to the assumption of jurisdiction by either court with a view to assuring that jurisdiction will be exercised by the more appropriate court and that a forum will be available to the parties."”

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