6 canonical passages across 4 cases, quoted by 18 opinions in total. These passages cluster together because the same opinions keep quoting them side by side — they state parts of one doctrine. The anchor passage is from State v. Ward.
| # | Case | Flag | Canonical passage | Citers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | State v. Ward Anchor | green | “the law will operate retrospectively to defeat all acts thus done under color of lawful authority, when exceeded; and a fortiori, will it operate prospectively, to prevent the acquisition of any lawful rights, by the excess and abuse of an authority given for useful and benefici…” | 3 |
| 2 | McClurg v. Brenton | green | “if the jury should find for plaintiff--that the wrongful search was made . . . -they could, in addition to actual damages, assess a greater or less sum against the defendants by way of punishment or as exemplary damages.” | 3 |
| 3 | McClurg v. Brenton | green | “the chief of police, the captain of the night force, a city alderman, the city physician, the 'man with the hounds,' and various other gentlemen, presumably volunteers in the cause of retributive justice,” | 3 |
| 4 | McClurg v. Brenton | green | “the mere fact that a man is an 34 officer, whether of high or low degree, gives him no more right than is possessed by the ordinary private citizen to . . . search for the evidences of crime, without a legal warrant procured for that purpose.” | 3 |
| 5 | State v. Tonn | red | “if defendants, in executing the process, acted in good faith, and in their entry upon plaintiff's premises, were guilty of no oppression, and made no disturbance, further than was necessary in making the seizure, the trespass, even if without authority, was nominal only, and nom…” | 3 |
| 6 | Gelston v. Hoyt | green | “at common law, any person may at his peril, seize for a forfeiture to the government; and if the government adopt his seizure, and the property is condemned, he will be completely justified . . . .” | 3 |
A red or yellow flag on a member means the underlying case has negative treatment — for those, check the case page before relying on the passage.