The doctrines Alaska courts name when they cite: mined from the sentence each citation lives in, keyed on the citing court, counted by distinct opinions. Entry by issue, not by case: pick one to see the cases on each side.
| # | Issue | Most-cited case | Opinions | Courts | Years | Last 5y |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | due process clause | Nichols v. Eckert | 267 | 2 | 1967–2026 | 24 |
| 2 | abuse of discretion standard | Moffitt v. Moffitt | 198 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 23 |
| 3 | plain error | Adams v. State | 156 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 30 |
| 4 | equal protection clause | Isakson v. Rickey | 125 | 2 | 1970–2025 | 11 |
| 5 | exclusionary rule | State v. Sears | 116 | 2 | 1969–2025 | 6 |
| 6 | affirmative defense | Morrow v. New Moon Homes, Inc. | 114 | 2 | 1967–2025 | 13 |
| 7 | hearsay rule | Dobos v. Ingersoll | 103 | 2 | 1964–2025 | 7 |
| 8 | substitution of judgment standard | Tesoro Alaska Petroleum Co. v. Kenai Pipe Line Co. | 99 | 2 | 1979–2025 | 7 |
| 9 | warrant requirement | Schraff v. State | 98 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 7 |
| 10 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 97 | 2 | 1968–2025 | 4 |
| 11 | public interest exception | Hayes v. Charney | 97 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 27 |
| 12 | reasonable basis standard | Kelly v. Zamarello | 90 | 1 | 1971–2026 | 21 |
| 13 | mootness doctrine | Hayes v. Charney | 89 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 25 |
| 14 | double jeopardy clause | Whitton v. State | 85 | 2 | 1967–2025 | 7 |
| 15 | Alaska rule | Coleman v. State | 83 | 2 | 1962–2025 | 7 |
| 16 | interests analysis | Rego v. Rego | 61 | 1 | 1975–2026 | 24 |
| 17 | harmless error | Love v. State | 55 | 2 | 1968–2020 | 0 |
| 18 | res judicata doctrine | Calhoun v. Greening | 51 | 1 | 1967–2026 | 5 |
| 19 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 50 | 2 | 1968–2022 | 2 |
| 20 | rational basis test | Isakson v. Rickey | 50 | 2 | 1973–2020 | 0 |
| 21 | clear and convincing evidence standard | NADA A. v. State | 44 | 2 | 1983–2025 | 5 |
| 22 | de novo standard | RR v. State | 42 | 2 | 1993–2026 | 10 |
| 23 | separation of powers doctrine | Public Defender Agency v. Superior Court, Third Judicial District | 42 | 2 | 1969–2025 | 9 |
| 24 | Merrill factors | Merrill v. Merrill | 41 | 1 | 1971–2025 | 9 |
| 25 | Austin rule | Brezenoff v. State | 40 | 2 | 1983–2022 | 1 |
| 26 | fundamental principle | State v. GB | 40 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 3 |
| 27 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Malloy v. Hogan | 39 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 3 |
| 28 | clear indication factors | Borchgrevink v. Borchgrevink | 36 | 1 | 1996–2025 | 13 |
| 29 | plain meaning rule | State v. Alex | 36 | 2 | 1980–2024 | 4 |
| 30 | preponderance of the evidence standard | In re Pablo C. | 36 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 4 |
| 31 | attorney-client privilege | United Services Automobile Association v. Werley | 34 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 5 |
| 32 | per se rule | Stobaugh v. State | 34 | 2 | 1979–2020 | 0 |
| 33 | active efforts requirement | AA v. State | 33 | 1 | 2001–2026 | 15 |
| 34 | law of the case doctrine | Beal v. Beal | 33 | 2 | 1966–2024 | 7 |
| 35 | necessity defense | Cleveland v. Municipality of Anchorage | 29 | 2 | 1964–2025 | 2 |
| 36 | implied waiver | Milne v. Anderson | 28 | 2 | 1973–2022 | 1 |
| 37 | insanity defense | Chase v. State | 28 | 2 | 1970–2023 | 3 |
| 38 | exhaustion doctrine | Hyning v. University of Alaska | 27 | 1 | 1981–2025 | 4 |
| 39 | indemnity clause | Manson-Osberg Company v. State | 26 | 1 | 1976–2023 | 1 |
| 40 | probable cause standard | DED v. State | 26 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 7 |
| 41 | Fourth Amendment violation | Dunaway v. New York | 25 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 2 |
| 42 | good faith claim | Malvo Ex Rel. Malvo v. J. C. Penney Co. | 25 | 2 | 1976–2017 | 0 |
| 43 | speedy trial violation | Barker v. Wingo | 25 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 3 |
| 44 | standing requirement | Wagstaff v. Superior Court, Family Court Division | 25 | 2 | 1970–2024 | 3 |
| 45 | clear and convincing standard | In Re Adoption of KS | 24 | 1 | 1979–2025 | 2 |
| 46 | Coleman rule | State v. GB | 24 | 2 | 1980–2023 | 1 |
| 47 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Briggs v. State, Department of Public Safety, Division of Motor Vehicles | 23 | 2 | 1978–2023 | 2 |
| 48 | commerce clause | Sjong v. State, Department of Revenue | 23 | 1 | 1975–2025 | 3 |
| 49 | Daubert test | State v. Coon | 23 | 2 | 1999–2025 | 4 |
| 50 | discretionary function exception | State v. Abbott | 23 | 1 | 1972–2012 | 0 |
| 51 | enforcement claim | Anchorage Roofing Co., Inc. v. Gonzales | 23 | 1 | 1970–2018 | 0 |
| 52 | Frye test | Contreras v. State | 23 | 2 | 1983–2019 | 0 |
| 53 | lesser included offense instruction | Elisovsky v. State | 23 | 2 | 1979–2025 | 1 |
| 54 | presumption claim | Smith v. CSK Auto, Inc. | 23 | 1 | 1974–2025 | 3 |
| 55 | probation revocation hearing | Trumbly v. State | 23 | 2 | 1973–2023 | 1 |
| 56 | sovereign immunity | Muskopf v. Corning Hospital District | 23 | 2 | 1972–2024 | 1 |
| 57 | Cooksey plea | Cooksey v. State | 22 | 2 | 1974–2022 | 2 |
| 58 | federal equal protection clause | State, Department of Revenue, Permanent Fund Dividend Division v. Cosio | 22 | 1 | 1980–2021 | 1 |
| 59 | Aguilar-Spinelli test | State v. Jones | 21 | 2 | 1985–2016 | 0 |
| 60 | ex post facto clause | Weaver v. Graham | 21 | 2 | 1986–2026 | 3 |
| 61 | home rule | Lien v. City of Ketchikan | 21 | 2 | 1970–2024 | 1 |
| 62 | negligence per se instruction | Ferrell v. Baxter | 21 | 1 | 1975–2019 | 0 |
| 63 | omnibus hearing | Gieffels v. State | 21 | 2 | 1970–2016 | 0 |
| 64 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 20 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 4 |
| 65 | iied claim | Richardson v. Fairbanks North Star Borough | 20 | 1 | 1990–2025 | 4 |
| 66 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 20 | 2 | 1975–2025 | 3 |
| 67 | d.s.w factors | DSW v. Fairbanks No. Star Bor. Sch. Dist. | 19 | 1 | 1994–2026 | 5 |
| 68 | last injurious exposure rule | Ketchikan Gateway Borough v. Saling | 19 | 1 | 1980–2020 | 0 |
| 69 | mistaken standard | McClain v. State | 19 | 2 | 1975–2023 | 2 |
| 70 | aggravating and mitigating factors | Juneby v. State | 18 | 2 | 1982–2025 | 4 |
| 71 | commitment hearing | Wetherhorn v. Alaska Psychiatric Institute | 18 | 1 | 1982–2025 | 5 |
| 72 | flexible test | O'CALLAGHAN v. State | 18 | 2 | 1977–2023 | 4 |
| 73 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Miranda v. Arizona | 18 | 2 | 1969–2011 | 0 |
| 74 | parol evidence rule | Alaska Northern Development, Inc. v. Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. | 18 | 1 | 1971–2022 | 1 |
| 75 | Blakely error | Milligrock v. State | 17 | 2 | 2005–2020 | 0 |
| 76 | parole violation | Morrissey v. Brewer | 17 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 4 |
| 77 | qualified immunity | Harlow v. Fitzgerald | 17 | 1 | 1983–2019 | 0 |
| 78 | vagueness doctrine | Hoffman Estates v. Flipside, Hoffman Estates, Inc. | 17 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 4 |
| 79 | Chaney factors | State v. Chaney | 16 | 2 | 1975–2024 | 4 |
| 80 | comparative negligence doctrine | Kaatz v. State | 16 | 1 | 1975–2008 | 0 |
| 81 | considers improper factors | Sne v. Rlb | 16 | 1 | 1991–2025 | 3 |
| 82 | divorce exception | Bergstrom v. Lindback | 16 | 1 | 1982–2024 | 4 |
| 83 | domestic violence presumption | Yelena R. v. George R. | 16 | 2 | 2013–2025 | 6 |
| 84 | factor test | State v. Abbott | 16 | 1 | 1976–2025 | 2 |
| 85 | finality requirement | Greater Anchorage Area Borough v. City of Anchorage | 16 | 1 | 1971–2023 | 1 |
| 86 | First Amendment claim | State v. Campbell | 16 | 2 | 1979–2025 | 6 |
| 87 | plain view doctrine | Reeves v. State | 16 | 2 | 1974–2019 | 0 |
| 88 | prima facie claim | Risher v. State | 16 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 4 |
| 89 | results test | Lauderdale v. State | 16 | 2 | 1979–2016 | 0 |
| 90 | severability clause | Lynden Transport, Inc. v. State | 16 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 3 |
| 91 | specification error | Matter of BLJ | 16 | 1 | 1965–1990 | 0 |
| 92 | ABA standard | In the Disciplinary Matter Involving Buckalew | 15 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 2 |
| 93 | acceptable standard | Pascu v. State | 15 | 2 | 1980–1998 | 0 |
| 94 | defamation claim | Snyder v. Phelps | 15 | 1 | 1982–2022 | 3 |
| 95 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 15 | 2 | 1970–2023 | 1 |
| 96 | legislative standard | Application of Brewer | 15 | 2 | 1969–2024 | 1 |
| 97 | privileges and immunities clause | Baldwin v. Fish and Game Comm'n of Mont. | 15 | 1 | 1977–2019 | 0 |
| 98 | proceeding must disregard any error | RJM v. State | 15 | 1 | 1961–2024 | 2 |
| 99 | public trust doctrine | CWC Fisheries, Inc. v. Bunker | 15 | 2 | 1988–2025 | 5 |
| 100 | compelling state interest test | State v. Wylie | 14 | 1 | 1973–2021 | 1 |
| 101 | concluded claim | MRS v. State | 14 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 4 |
| 102 | exhaustion of administrative remedies doctrine | Eidelson v. Archer | 14 | 1 | 1985–2023 | 1 |
| 103 | finding of plain error | Henry v. State | 14 | 2 | 1981–2015 | 0 |
| 104 | icwa standard | Sylvia v. State, Department of Health & Social Services, Office of Children's Services | 14 | 1 | 1997–2026 | 8 |
| 105 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Risher v. State | 14 | 2 | 1992–2025 | 3 |
| 106 | laches defense | Concerned Citizens of South Kenai Peninsula v. Kenai Peninsula Borough | 14 | 1 | 1976–2025 | 2 |
| 107 | minimum standard | Santosky v. Kramer | 14 | 2 | 1961–2016 | 0 |
| 108 | preponderance standard | Care & Protection of Robert | 14 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 2 |
| 109 | psychotherapist-patient privilege | Gunnerud v. State | 14 | 2 | 1978–2023 | 1 |
| 110 | purposes rule | Sanuita v. Common Laborer's & Hod Carriers Union of America, Local 341 | 14 | 2 | 1970–2023 | 1 |
| 111 | reasonable efforts requirement | Barbara P. v. State, Department of Health & Social Services | 14 | 1 | 2002–2026 | 6 |
| 112 | Restatement rule | Laborers & Hod Carriers Union, Local No. 341 v. Groothuis | 14 | 2 | 1975–2024 | 1 |
| 113 | self-defense claim | State v. Millett | 14 | 2 | 1980–2022 | 1 |
| 114 | statutory provisions conferring rule | Kelly v. Zamarello | 14 | 2 | 1978–2007 | 0 |
| 115 | conditional privilege | Fairbanks Publishing Company v. Francisco | 13 | 1 | 1978–2014 | 0 |
| 116 | consent exception | Erickson v. State | 13 | 2 | 1979–2023 | 3 |
| 117 | custody hearing | Morel v. Morel | 13 | 1 | 1981–2020 | 0 |
| 118 | fund doctrine | Edwards v. Alaska Pulp Corp. | 13 | 1 | 1995–2021 | 3 |
| 119 | Johnson claim | Lerchenstein v. State | 13 | 2 | 1980–2025 | 2 |
| 120 | list factors | Merrill v. Merrill | 13 | 1 | 1972–2020 | 0 |
| 121 | mining claim | Kile v. Belisle | 13 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 2 |
| 122 | minority rule | McKibben v. Mohawk Oil Co., Ltd. | 13 | 2 | 1979–2024 | 1 |
| 123 | result of intelligent waiver | Adams v. State | 13 | 2 | 2014–2025 | 8 |
| 124 | rigid rule | State v. GB | 13 | 2 | 1974–2018 | 0 |
| 125 | ruling error | Dawson v. State | 13 | 2 | 1978–2018 | 0 |
| 126 | scrutiny standard | Dunn v. Blumstein | 13 | 1 | 1980–2022 | 1 |
| 127 | stare decisis doctrine | Pratt & Whitney Canada, Inc. v. Sheehan | 13 | 2 | 1980–2023 | 1 |
| 128 | substantive due process violation | John Doe v. Department of Public Safety | 13 | 2 | 1995–2025 | 6 |
| 129 | after hearing | Barbara P. v. State, Department of Health & Social Services | 12 | 1 | 1979–2021 | 1 |
| 130 | bad faith defense | Malvo Ex Rel. Malvo v. J. C. Penney Co. | 12 | 1 | 1978–2003 | 0 |
| 131 | causation standard | Huit v. Ashwater Burns, Inc. | 12 | 1 | 1988–2022 | 2 |
| 132 | conviction error | Briggs v. Kelly | 12 | 2 | 1965–2012 | 0 |
| 133 | equitable estoppel doctrine | Jamison v. Consolidated Utilities, Inc. | 12 | 2 | 1906–2022 | 1 |
| 134 | first three factors | In the Disciplinary Matter Involving Schuler | 12 | 1 | 2011–2024 | 2 |
| 135 | forfeiture rule | James v. State | 12 | 2 | 1976–2022 | 1 |
| 136 | good cause requirement | Coats v. Finn | 12 | 2 | 1987–2025 | 3 |
| 137 | interpretation rule | Amisub (Psl), Inc. v. State of Colorado Department of Social Services | 12 | 2 | 1975–2018 | 0 |
| 138 | lesser standard | In Re Adoption of KS | 12 | 2 | 1977–2017 | 0 |
| 139 | official immunity | Aspen Exploration Corp. v. Sheffield | 12 | 2 | 1987–2024 | 2 |
| 140 | overbreadth doctrine | Anderson v. State | 12 | 2 | 1974–2006 | 0 |
| 141 | pre-termination hearing | Storrs v. Municipality of Anchorage | 12 | 1 | 1993–2026 | 1 |
| 142 | protection privilege | MRS v. State | 12 | 2 | 1972–2025 | 1 |
| 143 | public policy exception | Sterling v. Delmonico | 12 | 1 | 1973–2026 | 1 |
| 144 | residency requirement | Brodigan v. Alaska Department of Revenue | 12 | 1 | 1973–2024 | 1 |
| 145 | Risher standard | Risher v. State | 12 | 2 | 1983–2023 | 1 |
| 146 | scientific analysis | Frye v. United States | 12 | 2 | 1983–2020 | 0 |
| 147 | source doctrine | Cruse v. State | 12 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 2 |
| 148 | statutory best interest factors | Rooney v. Rooney | 12 | 1 | 2014–2026 | 6 |
| 149 | absence of aggravating factors | Austin v. State | 11 | 1 | 1984–2007 | 0 |
| 150 | adjudication hearing | Matter of JA | 11 | 1 | 2000–2023 | 5 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.