The doctrines California 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 | People v. Partida | 3,925 | 6 | 1912–2026 | 1,044 |
| 2 | abuse of discretion standard | Haraguchi v. Superior Court | 3,798 | 7 | 1957–2026 | 1,411 |
| 3 | natural and probable consequences doctrine | People v. Lewis | 2,931 | 3 | 1992–2026 | 2,510 |
| 4 | fundamental rule | Jameson v. Desta | 2,851 | 6 | 1859–2026 | 788 |
| 5 | felony-murder rule | People v. Lewis | 2,762 | 3 | 1951–2026 | 2,115 |
| 6 | hearsay rule | People v. Sanchez | 2,186 | 7 | 1918–2026 | 630 |
| 7 | affirmative defense | Aguilar v. Atlantic Richfield Co. | 2,170 | 5 | 1869–2026 | 573 |
| 8 | de novo standard | People v. Posey | 2,096 | 7 | 1926–2026 | 782 |
| 9 | slapp motion | Baral v. Schnitt | 1,892 | 7 | 1997–2026 | 818 |
| 10 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 1,862 | 5 | 1883–2026 | 621 |
| 11 | equal protection clause | Cooley v. Superior Court | 1,841 | 7 | 1923–2026 | 339 |
| 12 | harmless error | People v. Watson | 1,559 | 5 | 1892–2026 | 605 |
| 13 | forfeiture rule | In Re Sheena K. | 1,324 | 5 | 1864–2026 | 623 |
| 14 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 1,241 | 6 | 1967–2026 | 336 |
| 15 | Watson standard | People v. Watson | 1,201 | 3 | 1964–2026 | 553 |
| 16 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 1,186 | 6 | 1966–2026 | 263 |
| 17 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 1,137 | 7 | 1930–2026 | 122 |
| 18 | prima facie inquiry | People v. Lewis | 1,066 | 4 | 1887–2026 | 809 |
| 19 | Marsden hearing | People v. Marsden | 974 | 4 | 1978–2026 | 318 |
| 20 | deferential abuse of discretion standard | People v. Carmony | 954 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 373 |
| 21 | Chapman standard | Chapman v. California | 874 | 4 | 1967–2026 | 383 |
| 22 | prejudicial error | People v. Watson | 871 | 5 | 1882–2026 | 199 |
| 23 | litigation privilege | Silberg v. Anderson | 761 | 6 | 1893–2026 | 286 |
| 24 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 752 | 5 | 1959–2026 | 144 |
| 25 | Romero motion | People v. Superior Court (Romero) | 716 | 4 | 1970–2026 | 375 |
| 26 | anti-SLAPP analysis | Baral v. Schnitt | 690 | 4 | 2001–2026 | 353 |
| 27 | warrant requirement | People v. Williams | 680 | 8 | 1944–2026 | 118 |
| 28 | unanimity instruction | People v. Russo | 664 | 4 | 1982–2026 | 224 |
| 29 | Wende brief | Anders v. California | 605 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 404 |
| 30 | ability to pay hearing | People v. Dueñas | 603 | 3 | 1993–2026 | 424 |
| 31 | context of the statutory framework | Moyer v. Workmen's Compensation Appeals Board | 602 | 5 | 1976–2026 | 167 |
| 32 | Fourth Amendment violation | Whren v. United States | 602 | 4 | 1966–2026 | 106 |
| 33 | claim of instructional error | People v. Mitchell | 598 | 3 | 1991–2026 | 316 |
| 34 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 597 | 3 | 1990–2026 | 303 |
| 35 | res judicata doctrine | Mycogen Corp. v. Monsanto Co. | 594 | 5 | 1905–2026 | 95 |
| 36 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 589 | 4 | 1966–2026 | 174 |
| 37 | camera hearing | People v. Mooc | 580 | 4 | 1970–2026 | 133 |
| 38 | law of the case doctrine | People v. Shuey | 564 | 4 | 1910–2026 | 183 |
| 39 | invited error | People v. Coffman | 558 | 4 | 1947–2026 | 168 |
| 40 | pinpoint instruction | People v. Saille | 550 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 211 |
| 41 | Pitchess motion | People v. Mooc | 550 | 4 | 1977–2026 | 148 |
| 42 | separation of powers doctrine | Superior Court v. County of Mendocino | 537 | 6 | 1941–2026 | 109 |
| 43 | attorney-client privilege | City & County of San Francisco v. Superior Court | 532 | 5 | 1954–2026 | 85 |
| 44 | ineffective assistance claim | Strickland v. Washington | 522 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 221 |
| 45 | state law claim | People v. Watson | 514 | 3 | 1944–2026 | 186 |
| 46 | double jeopardy clause | Burks v. United States | 507 | 4 | 1953–2026 | 114 |
| 47 | ease bar | Tomaier v. Tomaier | 478 | 3 | 1874–2021 | 1 |
| 48 | Sixth Amendment violation | People v. Sandoval | 476 | 5 | 1968–2026 | 201 |
| 49 | Faretta motion | Faretta v. California | 450 | 3 | 1976–2026 | 130 |
| 50 | clear and convincing standard | SHEILA S. v. Superior Court | 448 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 137 |
| 51 | deferential substantial evidence standard | People v. Williams | 447 | 5 | 1982–2026 | 116 |
| 52 | Estrada rule | In Re Estrada | 436 | 6 | 1976–2026 | 234 |
| 53 | beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 435 | 4 | 1956–2026 | 174 |
| 54 | legally sufficient claim | Baral v. Schnitt | 431 | 4 | 1995–2026 | 183 |
| 55 | UCL claim | Cel-Tech Communications, Inc. v. Los Angeles Cellular Telephone Co. | 428 | 3 | 1998–2026 | 130 |
| 56 | icwa inquiry | Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Ashlee R. | 426 | 3 | 1991–2026 | 285 |
| 57 | Wheeler motion | People v. Wheeler | 423 | 4 | 1982–2026 | 107 |
| 58 | exhaustion doctrine | Abelleira v. District Court of Appeal | 418 | 3 | 1897–2026 | 93 |
| 59 | statute of limitations defense | Adams v. Paul | 395 | 3 | 1864–2026 | 100 |
| 60 | record for potential error | People v. Kelly | 391 | 1 | 2009–2026 | 153 |
| 61 | knowing and intelligent waiver | People v. Sivongxxay | 386 | 6 | 1967–2026 | 94 |
| 62 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Lucido v. Superior Court | 380 | 4 | 1950–2026 | 67 |
| 63 | ingredient of the constitutional doctrine | Denham v. Superior Court | 380 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 193 |
| 64 | parole violation | People v. Franklin | 380 | 5 | 1964–2026 | 139 |
| 65 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 374 | 5 | 1925–2026 | 82 |
| 66 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Ybarra v. Spangard | 374 | 4 | 1909–2026 | 32 |
| 67 | ex post facto clause | Collins v. Youngblood | 372 | 4 | 1958–2025 | 46 |
| 68 | estoppel doctrine | Norgart v. Upjohn Co. | 370 | 4 | 1890–2026 | 45 |
| 69 | demurrer test | Blank v. Kirwan | 365 | 6 | 1890–2026 | 105 |
| 70 | rational basis test | Johnson v. Department of Justice | 364 | 7 | 1976–2026 | 66 |
| 71 | probable cause hearing | Morrissey v. Brewer | 362 | 6 | 1955–2026 | 51 |
| 72 | vagueness challenge | In Re Sheena K. | 356 | 5 | 1975–2026 | 78 |
| 73 | contested hearing | Los Angeles County Department of Children & Family Services v. Theodora T. | 349 | 4 | 1954–2026 | 101 |
| 74 | preponderance of the evidence standard | People v. Reliford | 349 | 3 | 1967–2026 | 102 |
| 75 | parol evidence rule | Casa Herrera, Inc. v. Beydoun | 342 | 4 | 1922–2026 | 23 |
| 76 | youth offender parole hearing | People v. Franklin | 340 | 4 | 2013–2026 | 225 |
| 77 | equitable estoppel doctrine | Driscoll v. City of Los Angeles | 338 | 4 | 1920–2026 | 77 |
| 78 | paga claim | Iskanian v. CLS Transportation Los Angeles, LLC | 336 | 3 | 2008–2026 | 198 |
| 79 | scrutiny test | People v. Olivas | 330 | 6 | 1972–2026 | 28 |
| 80 | supremacy clause | Cipollone v. Liggett Group, Inc. | 325 | 5 | 1960–2026 | 29 |
| 81 | implied waiver | Berghuis v. Thompkins | 323 | 3 | 1857–2026 | 68 |
| 82 | personal waiver | People v. Blackburn | 321 | 5 | 1887–2026 | 81 |
| 83 | knowledge requirement | In Re Sheena K. | 309 | 4 | 1964–2026 | 57 |
| 84 | permanency planning hearing | In Re Marilyn H | 308 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 90 |
| 85 | Eighth Amendment challenge | Graham v. Florida | 305 | 5 | 1983–2026 | 126 |
| 86 | judicially created exception | People v. Reed | 303 | 3 | 1955–2026 | 67 |
| 87 | one final judgment rule | In Re Baycol Cases I & II | 303 | 3 | 1960–2026 | 99 |
| 88 | elementary principle | People v. Saddler | 301 | 6 | 1889–2026 | 37 |
| 89 | feha claim | Williams v. Chino Valley Independent Fire District | 301 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 86 |
| 90 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 300 | 4 | 1984–2026 | 95 |
| 91 | selection and implementation hearing | In Re Ronell A. | 300 | 3 | 1992–2026 | 73 |
| 92 | respondeat superior doctrine | Mary M. v. City of Los Angeles | 298 | 3 | 1889–2026 | 37 |
| 93 | six-month review hearing | M v. v. Superior Court | 291 | 3 | 1992–2026 | 117 |
| 94 | ceqa analysis | Communities for a Better Environment v. South Coast Air Quality Management District | 290 | 3 | 1981–2026 | 91 |
| 95 | jury followed instruction | People v. Sanchez | 290 | 3 | 1935–2026 | 111 |
| 96 | default rule | People v. Brown | 289 | 3 | 1929–2026 | 82 |
| 97 | accusatory pleading test | People v. Reed | 286 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 100 |
| 98 | principle rule | Kowis v. Howard | 285 | 3 | 1889–2026 | 85 |
| 99 | cumulative error | People v. Williams | 282 | 3 | 1961–2026 | 184 |
| 100 | record that support claim | In Re SC | 282 | 2 | 2006–2026 | 190 |
| 101 | detention hearing | In Re William M. | 281 | 3 | 1932–2026 | 87 |
| 102 | corollary rule | Fare v. Tony C. | 280 | 5 | 1900–2026 | 62 |
| 103 | First Amendment challenge | People v. George T. | 279 | 5 | 1966–2026 | 48 |
| 104 | preemption doctrine | Bishop v. City of San Jose | 277 | 4 | 1911–2026 | 29 |
| 105 | reasonable probability error | People v. Watson | 277 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 84 |
| 106 | American rule | Trope v. Katz | 271 | 5 | 1858–2026 | 69 |
| 107 | per se rule | Chapman v. California | 266 | 5 | 1961–2026 | 31 |
| 108 | gave instruction | Griffin v. California | 265 | 4 | 1899–2026 | 24 |
| 109 | malicious prosecution claim | Sheldon Appel Co. v. Albert & Oliker | 264 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 63 |
| 110 | qualified privilege | Harlow v. Fitzgerald | 264 | 3 | 1911–2026 | 38 |
| 111 | form instruction | People v. Breverman | 259 | 4 | 1858–2025 | 42 |
| 112 | Harvey waiver | People v. Harvey | 257 | 3 | 1962–2026 | 101 |
| 113 | merit claim | Baral v. Schnitt | 255 | 3 | 1925–2026 | 180 |
| 114 | Griffin error | Griffin v. California | 253 | 4 | 1961–2026 | 48 |
| 115 | probation revocation hearing | People v. Coleman | 253 | 4 | 1968–2026 | 57 |
| 116 | overbreadth challenge | In Re Sheena K. | 249 | 5 | 1971–2026 | 70 |
| 117 | omitted instruction | People v. Sedeno | 248 | 3 | 1934–2026 | 47 |
| 118 | clear and convincing evidence standard | Department of Social Services v. Ronald P. | 247 | 3 | 1948–2026 | 102 |
| 119 | conviction violation | Apprendi v. New Jersey | 247 | 5 | 1893–2026 | 48 |
| 120 | crucial defense | People v. Ibarra | 247 | 4 | 1906–2026 | 24 |
| 121 | unconscionability doctrine | Armendariz v. Found. Health Psychcare Servs., Inc. | 247 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 99 |
| 122 | beneficial relationship exception | In Re Autumn H. | 246 | 3 | 2004–2026 | 79 |
| 123 | party claiming waiver | In Re Melvin A | 241 | 4 | 1950–2026 | 64 |
| 124 | saving clause | In Re Estrada | 241 | 6 | 1854–2025 | 16 |
| 125 | felony violation | People v. Briceno | 238 | 5 | 1955–2026 | 56 |
| 126 | implied findings doctrine | Fladeboe v. American Isuzu Motors Inc. | 238 | 2 | 1958–2026 | 135 |
| 127 | contention error | Selinsky v. Olsen | 237 | 4 | 1910–2026 | 28 |
| 128 | stare decisis doctrine | Auto Equity Sales, Inc. v. Superior Court | 237 | 5 | 1860–2026 | 43 |
| 129 | alter ego doctrine | Mesler v. Bragg Management Co. | 235 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 78 |
| 130 | concluded error | Chapman v. California | 235 | 4 | 1965–2026 | 55 |
| 131 | exhaustion of administrative remedies doctrine | Abelleira v. District Court of Appeal | 235 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 45 |
| 132 | delayed discovery rule | Fox v. Ethicon Endo-Surgery, Inc. | 234 | 4 | 1986–2026 | 79 |
| 133 | factor test | Rutherford v. Owens-Illinois, Inc. | 234 | 3 | 1935–2026 | 74 |
| 134 | malice requirement | People v. Gentile | 232 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 167 |
| 135 | standing requirement | Blair v. Pitchess | 232 | 4 | 1968–2026 | 57 |
| 136 | third-party claim | Crawford v. Weather Shield Mfg., Inc. | 232 | 4 | 1921–2026 | 47 |
| 137 | lack instruction | Lewis v. Fletcher Jones Motor Cars, Inc. | 230 | 3 | 1943–2026 | 73 |
| 138 | commerce clause | Complete Auto Transit, Inc. v. Brady | 229 | 5 | 1914–2025 | 10 |
| 139 | categorical rule | Miller v. Alabama | 228 | 4 | 1974–2026 | 71 |
| 140 | registration requirement | People v. Hofsheier | 228 | 5 | 1958–2026 | 37 |
| 141 | discussion issue | Doe v. Roman Catholic Archbishop of Cashel & Emly | 226 | 4 | 1907–2026 | 39 |
| 142 | federal due process clause | People v. Partida | 226 | 3 | 1955–2026 | 52 |
| 143 | beneficial parental relationship exception | In Re Autumn H. | 225 | 2 | 2013–2026 | 100 |
| 144 | sufficiency of the evidence claim | People v. Johnson | 225 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 118 |
| 145 | Batson motion | People v. Lenix | 223 | 4 | 1989–2026 | 40 |
| 146 | parental benefit exception | In Re Autumn H. | 223 | 3 | 2013–2026 | 162 |
| 147 | second prong test | Navellier v. Sletten | 223 | 4 | 1972–2026 | 51 |
| 148 | late claim | Munoz v. State of California | 221 | 4 | 1963–2026 | 57 |
| 149 | analogous prima facie inquiry | People v. Lewis | 218 | 2 | 2021–2025 | 218 |
| 150 | unified standard | Haraguchi v. Superior Court | 217 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 148 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.