Trending passages — surging in recent citations · Go Syfert
Search » Famous passages » Trending

Trending passages

Quotes whose last-3-year citation rate is sharply higher than their earlier-history baseline. 3,520 passages cleared the velocity threshold (recent rate > 1.5× baseline, with ≥5 recent citations).  ·  All-time leaderboard  ·  Search quotes

#1  ·  136.7× baseline  ·  82 pins in last 3 yrs vs 3 in prior 15 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2008
"When the resolution of a question of law does not turn on an evaluation of the credibility and demeanor of a witness, then the trial court is not in a better position to make the determination, so appellate courts should conduct a de novo review of the issue."
#2  ·  125.0× baseline  ·  75 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 5 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2018
“[T]he proper procedure is for the district court to dismiss the complaint without prejudice when it denies the prisoner leave to proceed in forma pauperis pursuant to the three strikes provision of § 1915(g).”
#3  ·  85.3× baseline  ·  64 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 4 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2019
“Alaska law treats the University as a state entity for purposes of sovereign immunity”
from Ellingstad v. STATE, DEPT. OF NAT. RES., 1999
#4  ·  64.0× baseline  ·  96 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 2 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2021
“[B]ecause [a] release was very broadly phrased, it seems that if the parties intended to allow any future claims against each other, they would have done so specifically.”
#5  ·  69.3× baseline  ·  52 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 4 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2019
"Appeal from the denial of a motion to compel arbitration is subject to de novo review."
from New Hope Missionary Baptist Church v. Paragon Builders, 2008
#6  ·  54.0× baseline  ·  81 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 2 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2021
“Because Applicant and his trial counsel raised no objection to the indictment, they may not now challenge its efficacy to invoke the jurisdiction of the district court.”
#7  ·  60.8× baseline  ·  48 pins in last 3 yrs vs 5 in prior 19 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 2004
“[P]ro se litigants must set [a claim] forth in a manner which, taking the pleaded facts as true, states a claim as a matter of law.”
from W. T. Garrett and Carolyn Garrett, His Wife v. Bill Deavers, Yacht \Sin or Swim, 1981
#8  ·  63.0× baseline  ·  27 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 7 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2016
“Passing treatment of an issue or lack of reasoned argument is insufficient to allow for our meaningful review.”
from State v. Stubbs, 2008
#9  ·  75.0× baseline  ·  15 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 15 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 2008
“Curative measures simply do not tend to prove that a prior violation did not occur.”
from William Brogan v. San Mateo County, 1990
#10  ·  77.0× baseline  ·  11 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 21 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2002
"[T]he burden of establishing federal jurisdiction rests on the party seeking the federal forum."
from Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 1987
#11  ·  94.0× baseline  ·  6 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 47 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 1976
“unconscionable”
from Daniel N. Gordon, PC v. Rosenblum, 2017
#12  ·  33.7× baseline  ·  146 pins in last 3 yrs vs 13 in prior 9 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2014
"Section 1983 creates a cause of action based on personal liability and predicated upon fault; thus, liability does not attach unless the individual defendant caused or participated in a constitutional deprivation."
from Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs., 1978
#13  ·  33.7× baseline  ·  124 pins in last 3 yrs vs 38 in prior 31 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1992
"The authority of a federal trial court to dismiss a plaintiff's action with prejudice because of his failure to prosecute cannot seriously be doubted."
from Link v. Wabash Railroad, 1962
#14  ·  51.3× baseline  ·  22 pins in last 3 yrs vs 2 in prior 14 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2009
“Declaratory relief against a judge for actions taken within his or her judicial capacity is ordinarily available by appealing the judge’s order.”
#15  ·  49.0× baseline  ·  21 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 7 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2016
"A notice of a deficiency, even if it contains error, may nonetheless be valid where the taxpayer has not been misled as to the proper year involved or the amounts in controversy."
from Sanderling, Inc. v. Commissioner of Internal Revenue, 1978
#16  ·  38.0× baseline  ·  38 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 3 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2020
“A plaintiff's failure to name a defendant in the caption of a Complaint renders any action against the purported defendant a legal nullity.”
#17  ·  39.0× baseline  ·  27 pins in last 3 yrs vs 6 in prior 26 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1997
"[W]e find no express or implied requirement in Rule 56 that the moving party support its motion with affidavits or other similar materials negating the opponent's claim."
from Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, Administratrix of the Estate of Catrett, 1986
#18  ·  33.1× baseline  ·  48 pins in last 3 yrs vs 14 in prior 29 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1994
“Cottingham I”
from Cottingham v. State, 1992
#19  ·  27.3× baseline  ·  82 pins in last 3 yrs vs 3 in prior 3 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2020
“The color of state law element is a threshold issue; there is no liability under § 1983 for those not acting under color of law.”
from Groman v. Township Of Manalapan, 1995
#20  ·  56.0× baseline  ·  7 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 24 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 1999
"From appellant's brief, we cannot discern his specific arguments, and we will not brief appellant's case for him."
from Foley v. Kentucky, 1998
#21  ·  34.7× baseline  ·  26 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 4 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2019
“Under Rule 41(b), a district court may dismiss an action sua sponte if the plaintiff fails to comply with court orders.”
from Link v. Wabash Railroad, 1962
#22  ·  49.5× baseline  ·  9 pins in last 3 yrs vs 2 in prior 33 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 1990
"Violations of an order are punishable as criminal contempt even though . . . the basic action has become moot"
from United States v. United Mine Workers of America, 1947
#23  ·  40.0× baseline  ·  16 pins in last 3 yrs vs 2 in prior 15 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 2008
"The requirements of section 1962(c) must be established as to each individual defendant."
from De Falco v. Bernas, 2001
#24  ·  33.3× baseline  ·  25 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 4 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2019
“A party raising a federal question must appeal a state court decision through the state system and then directly to the Supreme Court of the United States.”
from Rooker v. Fidelity Trust Co., 1924
#25  ·  26.2× baseline  ·  60 pins in last 3 yrs vs 29 in prior 38 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1985
"[A] private citizen lacks a judicially cognizable interest in the prosecution or nonprosecution of another"
from Linda RS v. Richard D., 1973
#26  ·  34.2× baseline  ·  22 pins in last 3 yrs vs 3 in prior 14 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 2009
“To establish a prima facie case for recovery under a promissory note, the holder must demonstrate execution of the note and a default in payment pursuant to its terms.”
#27  ·  36.0× baseline  ·  16 pins in last 3 yrs vs 4 in prior 27 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 1996
“The intent of Congress drastically to restrict federal jurisdiction in controversies between citizens of different states has always been rigorously enforced by the courts.”
#28  ·  33.3× baseline  ·  20 pins in last 3 yrs vs 2 in prior 10 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2013
“A judgment of contempt regarding a domestic relations decree is appealable only by application for discretionary appeal.”
#29  ·  52.0× baseline  ·  6 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 26 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1997
"Guthrie I"
from Guthrie v. State, 1993
#30  ·  20.8× baseline  ·  125 pins in last 3 yrs vs 2 in prior 1 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2022
“We may take notice of proceedings in other courts, both within and without the federal judicial system, if those proceedings have a direct relation to matters at issue”
from Bennett v. Medtronic, Inc., 2002
#31  ·  24.4× baseline  ·  55 pins in last 3 yrs vs 3 in prior 4 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2019
"The district court may adopt those portions of a report and recommendation to which no timely objections have been made, provided no clear error is apparent from the face of the record."
from Dipilato v. 7-Eleven, Inc., 2009
#32  ·  21.6× baseline  ·  93 pins in last 3 yrs vs 23 in prior 16 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2007
“We hold that where an underlying statute authorizes an award of attorneys’ fees, either with mandatory or discretionary language, such fees may be included in the amount in controversy.”
#33  ·  46.7× baseline  ·  7 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 20 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2003
“We have found that equitable tolling may be appropriate when ‘the plaintiff is actively misled by the defendant about the cause of action or is prevented in some extraordinary way from asserting his rights.’”
#34  ·  48.0× baseline  ·  6 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 24 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1999
"Where the plaintiff's overall trade dress is distinctive, the fact that it uses descriptive (or generic) elements does not render it nonprotectable."
#35  ·  20.5× baseline  ·  82 pins in last 3 yrs vs 28 in prior 21 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2002
“[T]he trial judge must have considerable leeway in deciding in a particular case how to go about determining whether particular expert testimony is reliable”
from Kumho Tire Co. v. Carmichael, 1999
#36  ·  46.0× baseline  ·  6 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 23 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2000
“Redding II”
from Redding v. State, 2022
#37  ·  23.0× baseline  ·  46 pins in last 3 yrs vs 10 in prior 15 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2008
“A formulaic recitation of the elements of a cause of action will not do[.]”
#38  ·  23.9× baseline  ·  37 pins in last 3 yrs vs 17 in prior 33 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1990
"[O]fficial-capacity suits generally represent only another way of pleading an action against an entity of which an officer is an agent."
from Monell v. New York City Dept. of Social Servs., 1978
#39  ·  18.4× baseline  ·  102 pins in last 3 yrs vs 37 in prior 20 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2003
“[S]ubject-matter delineations must be policed by the courts on their own initiative.”
from Ruhrgas Ag v. Marathon Oil Co., 1999
#40  ·  25.9× baseline  ·  25 pins in last 3 yrs vs 9 in prior 28 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 1995
"[P]erfunctory and undeveloped arguments, and arguments that are unsupported by pertinent authority, are waived"
from Luis Aparicio-Brito v. Loretta E. Lynch, 2016
#41  ·  37.3× baseline  ·  8 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 14 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 2009
“[A] well-pleaded complaint may proceed even if it strikes a savvy judge that actual proof of the facts alleged is improbable”
#42  ·  30.3× baseline  ·  13 pins in last 3 yrs vs 3 in prior 21 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2002
“Fairfield I”
from Fairfield Sentry Ltd. v. Theodoor GGC Amsterdam (In re Fairfield Sentry Ltd.), 2018
#43  ·  19.3× baseline  ·  58 pins in last 3 yrs vs 3 in prior 3 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2020
“Although procedural default often appears as a preliminary question, we may decide the merits first.”
#44  ·  32.0× baseline  ·  10 pins in last 3 yrs vs 5 in prior 48 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 1975
“Reynolds ”
from State ex rel. Vanni v. McMonagle, 2013
#45  ·  24.4× baseline  ·  22 pins in last 3 yrs vs 6 in prior 20 yrs  ·  peak 2025, first 2003
"[W]hen it is obvious that the unexhausted claims would be procedurally barred in state court due to a state-law procedural default, we can forego the needless 'judicial ping-pong' and just treat those claims now barred by state law as no basis for federal habeas relief."
from Snowden v. Singletary, 1998
#46  ·  33.0× baseline  ·  9 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 11 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2012
“[A] high school student who is assigned to a teacher’s class does not have the capacity to welcome that teacher’s physical sexual conduct.”
from Chancellor v. Pottsgrove School District, 2007
#47  ·  26.7× baseline  ·  16 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 5 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2018
"appellate court need not pass upon questions or issues not argued in the brief"
#48  ·  21.3× baseline  ·  32 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 2 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2021
“It is beyond debate that an inmate cannot be required to exhaust administrative remedies regarding non-grievable issues.”
#49  ·  23.1× baseline  ·  24 pins in last 3 yrs vs 9 in prior 26 yrs  ·  peak 2023, first 1997
“The presence or absence of federal-question jurisdiction is governed by the ‘well-pleaded complaint rule,’ which provides that federal jurisdiction exists only when a federal question is presented on the face of the plaintiff's properly pleaded complaint.”
from Caterpillar Inc. v. Williams, 1987
#50  ·  38.0× baseline  ·  6 pins in last 3 yrs vs 1 in prior 19 yrs  ·  peak 2024, first 2004
"[T]he power to sanction parties for conduct in a core matter is itself core."
from Wellness Int'l Network, Ltd. v. Sharif, 2015
Page 1 of 71   Next →