more-likely-than-not standard (Pennsylvania) · Go Syfert
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more-likely-than-not standard in Pennsylvania

6 Pennsylvania opinions name it 2 courts 1974–2025 4 in the last five years

The cases below were cited by Pennsylvania courts in a sentence that names this issue. Sides come from how each citing opinion treated the case (Syfertize flag on that citation), so a case can appear on both: that is where the law is contested. A red or yellow chip is the case's own overall treatment.

Followed or applied (9)

CaseFollowedCited
Commonwealth v. Wojdakgreen
pa · 1983 · cited in 2 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2021–2024
2 sentences

2024See Wojdak, 466 A.2d at 996 (finding evidentiary inferences infirm unless the inferred fact is more likely than not to flow from the proven fact).

2024See Wojdak, 466 A.2d at 996 .

12
Com. v. Dunkins, A.green
pasuperct · 2020 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025Commonwealth v. Perez, 666 Pa. 29 , 48, 249 A.3d 1092 , 1102-03 (2021) (citations and quotation marks omitted). “[A] perpetrator’s identity may be established with circumstantial evidence.” Commonwealth v. Dunkins, 229 A.3d 622, 632 (Pa.Super. 2020), cert. denied, ___ U.S. ___, 142 S.Ct. 1679 , 212 L.Ed.2d 584 (2022).

11
Ex Parte Cathy Lynn HENDERSONgreen
texcrimapp · 2012 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2025–2025
1 sentence

2025These are known as Schlup claims, where the lower standard is justified “because the conviction ‘may not be entitled to the same degree of respect of one . . . that is the product of an error-free trial.’” Allen, 366 S.W.3d at 705 (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 316 ); see Ex Parte Henderson, 384 S.W.3d 833, 835 (Tex. Crim.

11
Commonwealth v. Packardgreen
pasuperct · 2001 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2021–2021
1 sentence

2021Id. at 21, citing Wojdak, 466 A.2d at 966 and Commonwealth v. Packard, 767 A.2d 1068, 1071 (Pa. Super. 2001), abrogated on other grounds, Commonwealth v. Dantzler, 135 A.3d 1109 , 1112 n.5 (Pa. Super. 2016).

11
Kurland v. Stolkergreen
pa · 1987 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 2020–2020
1 sentence

2020In Kurland v. Stolker, 533 A.2d 1370, 1372 (Pa. 1987), the Supreme Court of the Pennsylvania, when faced with a real-estate transaction that the alleged seller argued violated the statute of frauds, rejected the chancellor’s application of the more-likely-than-not standard for fact finding as legally insufficient.

11
Turner v. United Statesgreen
scotus · 1970 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1974–1974
2 sentences

1974See Barnes v. United States, 412 U.S. 837, 841-44 , 93 S. Ct. 2357, 2361-62 (1973) ; Turner v. United States, 396 U.S. 398, 404-05 , 90 S. Ct. 642, 646 (1970).

1974See Barnes v. United States, 412 U.S. 837, 841-44 , 93 S. Ct. 2357, 2361-62 (1973) ; Turner v. United States, 396 U.S. 398, 404-05 , 90 S. Ct. 642, 646 (1970).

11
Leary v. United Statesgreen
scotus · 1969 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1974–1974
2 sentences

1974In Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6 , 89 S. Ct. 1532 (1969), the Supreme Court did not “reach the question whether a criminal presumption which passes muster when so judged [by the more-likely-than-not standard] must also satisfy the criminal ‘reasonable doubt’ standard if proof of the crime charged or an essential element thereof depends upon its use.” Id. at 36 n.64, 89 S. Ct. at 1548, n.64 .

1974In Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6 , 89 S. Ct. 1532 (1969), the Supreme Court did not “reach the question whether a criminal presumption which passes muster when so judged [by the more-likely-than-not standard] must also satisfy the criminal ‘reasonable doubt’ standard if proof of the crime charged or an essential element thereof depends upon its use.” Id. at 36 n.64, 89 S. Ct. at 1548, n.64 .

11
Barnes v. United Statesgreen
scotus · 1973 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1974–1974
2 sentences

1974See Barnes v. United States, 412 U.S. 837, 841-44 , 93 S. Ct. 2357, 2361-62 (1973) ; Turner v. United States, 396 U.S. 398, 404-05 , 90 S. Ct. 642, 646 (1970).

1974See Barnes v. United States, 412 U.S. 837, 841-44 , 93 S. Ct. 2357, 2361-62 (1973) ; Turner v. United States, 396 U.S. 398, 404-05 , 90 S. Ct. 642, 646 (1970).

11
Commonwealth v. McFarlandgreen
pa · 1973 · cited in 1 Pennsylvania opinions naming this issue, 1974–1974
2 sentences

1974The view that presumptions and inferences are to be given different constitutional treatment was later rejected in Commonwealth v. MacFarland, 452 Pa. 435, 439 , 308 A.2d 592, 594 (1973). [3] In Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6 , 89 S. Ct. 1532 (1969), the Supreme Court did not "reach the question whether a criminal presumption which passes muster when so judged [by the more-likely-than-not standard] must also satisfy the criminal `reasonable doubt' standard if proof of the crime charged or an essential element thereof depends upon its use." Id. at 36 n.64, 89 S. Ct. at 1548, n.64 .

1974The view that presumptions and inferences are to be given different constitutional treatment was later rejected in Commonwealth v. MacFarland, 452 Pa. 435, 439 , 308 A.2d 592, 594 (1973). [3] In Leary v. United States, 395 U.S. 6 , 89 S. Ct. 1532 (1969), the Supreme Court did not "reach the question whether a criminal presumption which passes muster when so judged [by the more-likely-than-not standard] must also satisfy the criminal `reasonable doubt' standard if proof of the crime charged or an essential element thereof depends upon its use." Id. at 36 n.64, 89 S. Ct. at 1548, n.64 .

11

Distinguished, questioned or overruled (0)

CaseNegativeCited
No negative-treatment citations attached to this issue in Pennsylvania. Read the followed side critically anyway.

Also cited on this issue (4)

CaseCitedYears
In Re Allen green
tex · 2012
1 sentence

2025These are known as Schlup claims, where the lower standard is justified “because the conviction ‘may not be entitled to the same degree of respect of one . . . that is the product of an error-free trial.’” Allen, 366 S.W.3d at 705 (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 316 ); see Ex Parte Henderson, 384 S.W.3d 833, 835 (Tex. Crim.

12025–2025
Schlup v. Delo red
scotus · 1995
1 sentence

2025These are known as Schlup claims, where the lower standard is justified “because the conviction ‘may not be entitled to the same degree of respect of one . . . that is the product of an error-free trial.’” Allen, 366 S.W.3d at 705 (quoting Schlup, 513 U.S. at 316 ); see Ex Parte Henderson, 384 S.W.3d 833, 835 (Tex. Crim.

12025–2025
Brady v. Maryland green
scotus · 1963
1 sentence

2025By contrast, the more-likely-than-not standard applies to innocence claims tied to a constitutional error at trial, such as the withholding of evidence by the prosecution in violation of Brady v. Maryland, 373 U.S. 83 (1963).

12025–2025
Commonwealth v. Dantzler green
pasuperct · 2016
1 sentence

2021Id. at 21, citing Wojdak, 466 A.2d at 966 and Commonwealth v. Packard, 767 A.2d 1068, 1071 (Pa. Super. 2001), abrogated on other grounds, Commonwealth v. Dantzler, 135 A.3d 1109 , 1112 n.5 (Pa. Super. 2016).

12021–2021

Where else courts name it

IL 7 (1978–2019) PA 6 (1974–2025) VT 6 (1992–2017) TX 5 (1986–2015) FL 4 (1974–2009) WA 3 (1974–2002) IA 2 (1976–2018) CA 2 (2006–2022) MI 2 (1977–2025) HI 2 (1979–1995) MD 2 (1976–2012)

Opinions by the citing court's state. A doctrine retained in one state and abandoned in another shows up here as a year span that stalls.

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