The doctrines Arizona 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 | abuse of discretion error | State of Arizona v. Phil Gutierrez | 951 | 2 | 1957–2026 | 375 |
| 2 | record for reversible error | State v. Leon | 798 | 1 | 1989–2026 | 201 |
| 3 | fundamental error | State v. Henderson | 704 | 3 | 1908–2026 | 77 |
| 4 | record for fundamental error | Anders v. California | 539 | 2 | 1962–2026 | 70 |
| 5 | due process clause | California v. Trombetta | 439 | 2 | 1927–2026 | 57 |
| 6 | right essential defense | State v. Henderson | 355 | 2 | 1960–2026 | 27 |
| 7 | affirmative defense | Patterson v. New York | 323 | 2 | 1945–2026 | 41 |
| 8 | proponent claim | Orme School v. Reeves | 304 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 64 |
| 9 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 286 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 23 |
| 10 | reasonable doubt error | State v. Henderson | 282 | 2 | 1965–2026 | 65 |
| 11 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 243 | 2 | 1956–2025 | 20 |
| 12 | double jeopardy clause | Grady v. Corbin | 205 | 2 | 1960–2026 | 21 |
| 13 | harmless error | State v. Henderson | 188 | 2 | 1927–2026 | 35 |
| 14 | hearsay rule | State v. Rivera | 187 | 2 | 1955–2026 | 15 |
| 15 | Arizona rule | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 172 | 2 | 1946–2026 | 9 |
| 16 | equal protection clause | Kenyon v. Hammer | 165 | 2 | 1948–2026 | 7 |
| 17 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 155 | 2 | 1966–2025 | 13 |
| 18 | warrant requirement | State v. Ault | 142 | 2 | 1973–2025 | 14 |
| 19 | confrontation clause | Ohio v. Roberts | 140 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 12 |
| 20 | confession of reversible error | Tiller v. Tiller | 135 | 2 | 1961–2026 | 60 |
| 21 | Fourth Amendment violation | Whren v. United States | 123 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 15 |
| 22 | voluntariness hearing | State v. Finn | 122 | 2 | 1964–2026 | 15 |
| 23 | Willits instruction | State v. Willits | 117 | 2 | 1982–2026 | 22 |
| 24 | commits error | Marriage of Fuentes v. Fuentes | 112 | 2 | 1964–2026 | 43 |
| 25 | Strickland test | State v. Salazar | 106 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 36 |
| 26 | severance hearing | Raymond F. v. Arizona Department of Economic Security | 102 | 2 | 1975–2026 | 14 |
| 27 | lesser included offense instruction | State v. Wall | 101 | 2 | 1979–2025 | 14 |
| 28 | Sixth Amendment violation | State v. Ring | 99 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 9 |
| 29 | attorney-client privilege | Samaritan Foundation v. Goodfarb | 97 | 2 | 1964–2026 | 15 |
| 30 | rational basis test | Kenyon v. Hammer | 97 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 2 |
| 31 | separation of powers doctrine | Seisinger v. Siebel | 97 | 2 | 1975–2026 | 11 |
| 32 | parol evidence rule | Taylor v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance | 96 | 2 | 1925–2025 | 14 |
| 33 | Father motion | Hays v. Gama | 86 | 1 | 2011–2026 | 44 |
| 34 | justification defense | State v. King | 86 | 2 | 1963–2025 | 26 |
| 35 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 85 | 2 | 1966–2025 | 11 |
| 36 | Batson challenge | Batson v. Kentucky | 81 | 2 | 1987–2025 | 13 |
| 37 | qualified immunity | Harlow v. Fitzgerald | 81 | 3 | 1965–2026 | 7 |
| 38 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 80 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 41 |
| 39 | per se rule | Payne v. Tennessee | 80 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 5 |
| 40 | res judicata doctrine | Lawlor v. National Screen Service Corp. | 80 | 2 | 1937–2023 | 6 |
| 41 | law of the case doctrine | Powell-Cerkoney v. TCR-Montana Ranch Joint Venture | 77 | 2 | 1956–2026 | 9 |
| 42 | fact-intensive inquiry | State v. Henderson | 76 | 2 | 1995–2026 | 16 |
| 43 | transaction privilege | Tower Plaza Investments, Limited v. DeWitt | 74 | 2 | 1947–2024 | 6 |
| 44 | de novo standard | Anton v. Industrial Commission of Arizona | 73 | 2 | 1948–2025 | 8 |
| 45 | insanity defense | State v. Mott | 72 | 2 | 1970–2026 | 5 |
| 46 | Mother motion | Kent K. v. Bobby M. | 72 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 29 |
| 47 | statute of limitations defense | Logerquist v. Danforth | 70 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 10 |
| 48 | illegal sentence constitutes fundamental error | State v. Thues | 69 | 2 | 2002–2025 | 8 |
| 49 | record provided for reversible error | State v. Clark | 69 | 1 | 2014–2026 | 24 |
| 50 | change of plea hearing | State v. Hamilton | 67 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 16 |
| 51 | interests inquiry | Kent K. v. Bobby M. | 66 | 2 | 1923–2025 | 16 |
| 52 | invited error | State v. Logan | 66 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 8 |
| 53 | respondeat superior doctrine | Throop v. FE Young and Company | 65 | 2 | 1938–2026 | 8 |
| 54 | physician-patient privilege | Bain v. SUPER. CT. IN AND FOR MARICOPA CTY. | 63 | 2 | 1966–2025 | 5 |
| 55 | IAC claim | Strickland v. Washington | 61 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 39 |
| 56 | probable cause standard | Chronis v. Steinle | 61 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 7 |
| 57 | self-defense instruction | State v. King | 60 | 2 | 1972–2025 | 19 |
| 58 | Frye test | Frye v. United States | 59 | 2 | 1982–2016 | 0 |
| 59 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 59 | 2 | 1985–2024 | 4 |
| 60 | best-interests analysis | Demetrius L. v. Joshlynn F./d.L. | 58 | 2 | 2009–2026 | 32 |
| 61 | clear and convincing standard | State v. Renforth | 58 | 2 | 1962–2026 | 10 |
| 62 | Brady violation | State v. Jessen | 57 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 13 |
| 63 | adjudication hearing | Shella H. v. Department of Child Safety | 56 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 28 |
| 64 | Anders brief | State v. Leon | 56 | 2 | 1970–2022 | 3 |
| 65 | Restatement rule | Wiper v. Downtown Development Corp. | 55 | 2 | 1953–2026 | 5 |
| 66 | bad faith claim | Rawlings v. Apodaca | 54 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 11 |
| 67 | felony-murder instruction | State v. Essman | 52 | 2 | 1965–2022 | 2 |
| 68 | Husband motion | Koelsch v. Koelsch | 52 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 17 |
| 69 | plain language rule | Fragoso v. Fell | 52 | 2 | 1985–2025 | 4 |
| 70 | flight instruction | State v. Smith | 51 | 2 | 1968–2024 | 12 |
| 71 | private attorney general doctrine | Arnold v. Arizona Department of Health Services | 51 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 17 |
| 72 | lesser included instruction | State v. Krone | 50 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 16 |
| 73 | liquidated claim | Fleming v. Pima County | 50 | 2 | 1972–2025 | 3 |
| 74 | scrutiny analysis | Kenyon v. Hammer | 50 | 2 | 1974–2023 | 1 |
| 75 | result of legal error | Pool v. Superior Court | 49 | 2 | 1984–2025 | 5 |
| 76 | aggravating and mitigating factors | State v. Richmond | 48 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 9 |
| 77 | anti-abrogation clause | Cronin v. Sheldon | 48 | 2 | 1987–2025 | 9 |
| 78 | disclosure violation | SOLIMENO v. Yonan | 47 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 15 |
| 79 | Apprendi error | Apprendi v. New Jersey | 46 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 4 |
| 80 | contested hearing | Michaelson v. Garr | 46 | 2 | 1952–2026 | 21 |
| 81 | vagueness challenge | Grayned v. City of Rockford | 45 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 4 |
| 82 | speedy trial violation | State v. Vasko | 44 | 2 | 1976–2026 | 6 |
| 83 | structural error | State v. Ring | 44 | 2 | 1996–2026 | 15 |
| 84 | Wife motion | Marriage of Gutierrez v. Gutierrez | 44 | 2 | 1928–2026 | 15 |
| 85 | ex post facto clause | State v. Noble | 43 | 2 | 1976–2025 | 2 |
| 86 | makes error | State of Arizona v. Ronald Bruce Bigger | 43 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 34 |
| 87 | compensable claim | Thiel v. Industrial Commission | 41 | 2 | 1958–2025 | 3 |
| 88 | Dessureault hearing | State v. Dessureault | 41 | 2 | 1973–2022 | 4 |
| 89 | essential element claim | Orme School v. Reeves | 40 | 2 | 1966–2025 | 7 |
| 90 | dependency hearing | Shella H. v. Department of Child Safety | 39 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 8 |
| 91 | laches doctrine | Sotomayor v. Burns | 39 | 2 | 1906–2025 | 9 |
| 92 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Kent K. v. Bobby M. | 39 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 7 |
| 93 | sovereign immunity | Stone v. Arizona Highway Commission | 38 | 2 | 1963–2023 | 2 |
| 94 | wrongful death claim | In Re the Estate of Milliman | 38 | 2 | 1965–2025 | 4 |
| 95 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Lawlor v. National Screen Service Corp. | 37 | 2 | 1965–2023 | 1 |
| 96 | collateral source rule | Eastin v. Broomfield | 37 | 2 | 1967–2025 | 3 |
| 97 | exhaustion doctrine | Zeigler v. Kirschner | 37 | 2 | 1963–2023 | 4 |
| 98 | M'Naghten test | State v. Schantz | 37 | 2 | 1964–2018 | 0 |
| 99 | discretionary doctrine | Nold v. Nold | 36 | 2 | 1957–2026 | 10 |
| 100 | DUI defendant | Rothweiler v. Superior Court of Pima County | 36 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 2 |
| 101 | estoppel doctrine | Valencia Energy Co. v. Arizona Department of Revenue | 36 | 2 | 1924–2024 | 1 |
| 102 | prima facie violation | Duren v. Missouri | 36 | 2 | 1935–2026 | 7 |
| 103 | third-party claim | Grijalva v. Arizona State Compensation Fund | 36 | 2 | 1957–2025 | 6 |
| 104 | alibi defense | State v. Hamilton | 35 | 2 | 1945–2026 | 6 |
| 105 | cumulative error | State v. Hughes | 35 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 12 |
| 106 | implied waiver | State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance v. Lee | 35 | 2 | 1920–2023 | 3 |
| 107 | individual claim | Davis v. Cessna Aircraft Corp. | 35 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 1 |
| 108 | inevitable discovery doctrine | State v. Ault | 35 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 3 |
| 109 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Schneckloth v. Bustamonte | 35 | 2 | 1971–2024 | 3 |
| 110 | sanction violation | In Re Ockrassa | 35 | 2 | 1954–2025 | 1 |
| 111 | scientific principle | Frye v. United States | 35 | 2 | 1962–2025 | 1 |
| 112 | defamation claim | Yetman v. English | 34 | 2 | 1976–2026 | 11 |
| 113 | just claim | Rudinsky v. Harris | 34 | 2 | 1916–2026 | 4 |
| 114 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 34 | 2 | 1965–2025 | 4 |
| 115 | personal waiver | Stewart v. Smith | 34 | 2 | 1913–2025 | 8 |
| 116 | standing requirement | Sears v. Hull | 34 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 9 |
| 117 | clear and convincing evidence standard | Santosky v. Kramer | 33 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 11 |
| 118 | Eighth Amendment challenge | State v. Davis | 33 | 2 | 1978–2024 | 6 |
| 119 | First Amendment challenge | Barnes v. Glen Theatre, Inc. | 33 | 2 | 1976–2026 | 3 |
| 120 | immunity clause | Clouse Ex Rel. Clouse v. State | 33 | 2 | 1888–2023 | 4 |
| 121 | proportionality inquiry | Solem v. Helm | 33 | 2 | 1982–2026 | 4 |
| 122 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Capps v. American Airlines, Inc. | 33 | 2 | 1934–2025 | 2 |
| 123 | termination adjudication hearing | Christy A. v. Arizona Department of Economic Security | 33 | 2 | 2004–2026 | 10 |
| 124 | unjust enrichment claim | Brooks v. Valley National Bank | 33 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 13 |
| 125 | Blakely error | State v. Resendis-Felix | 32 | 2 | 2004–2024 | 2 |
| 126 | cognizable claim | State v. Donald | 32 | 2 | 1986–2025 | 2 |
| 127 | forfeiture clause | In Re Twenty-Four ThouSand Dollars ($24,000) in United States Currency | 32 | 2 | 1912–2023 | 1 |
| 128 | registration requirement | State v. Noble | 32 | 2 | 1980–2023 | 2 |
| 129 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 32 | 2 | 1982–2023 | 4 |
| 130 | blood alcohol test | Campbell v. Superior Court | 31 | 2 | 1967–2020 | 0 |
| 131 | burden of proving claim | State v. Henderson | 31 | 2 | 1957–2023 | 3 |
| 132 | Daubert hearing | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 31 | 2 | 1995–2026 | 5 |
| 133 | finding of fundamental error | State v. Thomas | 31 | 2 | 1981–2024 | 2 |
| 134 | interpretation rule | City of Phoenix v. Superior Court | 31 | 2 | 1946–2024 | 2 |
| 135 | modern rule | Fields v. Fields | 31 | 2 | 1922–2018 | 0 |
| 136 | American rule | State v. Boykin | 30 | 2 | 1874–2026 | 2 |
| 137 | economic loss doctrine | Flagstaff Affordable Housing Ltd. Partnership v. Design Alliance, Inc. | 30 | 2 | 2003–2022 | 2 |
| 138 | exhaustion of remedies doctrine | Campbell v. Mountain States Telephone & Telegraph Co. | 30 | 2 | 1975–2022 | 1 |
| 139 | given instruction | State v. Solis | 30 | 2 | 1981–2024 | 7 |
| 140 | preemption clause | Keenan Reed-Kaliher v. Hon. hoggat/state | 30 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 6 |
| 141 | record about all relevant factors | Reid v. Reid | 30 | 1 | 2003–2026 | 11 |
| 142 | apsa claim | Estate of McGill Ex Rel. McGill v. Albrecht | 29 | 2 | 2006–2025 | 3 |
| 143 | concluded rule | Stone v. Arizona Highway Commission | 29 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 3 |
| 144 | corpus delicti rule | State v. Gillies | 29 | 2 | 1992–2025 | 4 |
| 145 | distinct claim | Huebner v. Deuchle | 29 | 2 | 1947–2025 | 3 |
| 146 | exhaustion of administrative remedies doctrine | Southwestern Paint & Varnish Co. v. Arizona Department of Environmental Quality | 29 | 2 | 1957–2025 | 3 |
| 147 | firmly rooted hearsay exception | Ohio v. Roberts | 29 | 2 | 1983–2008 | 0 |
| 148 | ineffective assistance claim | State v. Carver | 29 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 5 |
| 149 | knowing waiver | State v. Prince | 29 | 2 | 1976–2025 | 4 |
| 150 | lesser standard | Dowling v. United States | 29 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 6 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.