The doctrines Connecticut 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 | Benton v. Maryland | 1,554 | 3 | 1930–2026 | 148 |
| 2 | plain error | State v. Golding | 1,032 | 3 | 1859–2026 | 79 |
| 3 | cutpa claim | Quimby v. Kimberly Clark Corp. | 904 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 36 |
| 4 | fundamental principle | State v. Ellis | 693 | 3 | 1899–2026 | 35 |
| 5 | abuse of discretion standard | Schoonmaker v. Lawrence Brunoli, Inc. | 648 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 115 |
| 6 | hearsay rule | State v. Saucier | 631 | 3 | 1925–2026 | 42 |
| 7 | claim of constitutional error | State v. Golding | 574 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 46 |
| 8 | first degree violation | North Carolina v. Alford | 521 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 60 |
| 9 | sovereign immunity | Horton v. Meskill | 461 | 3 | 1963–2026 | 30 |
| 10 | affirmative defense | State v. Elliott | 459 | 3 | 1914–2026 | 49 |
| 11 | double jeopardy clause | Benton v. Maryland | 395 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 29 |
| 12 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 370 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 24 |
| 13 | Golding analysis | State v. Golding | 367 | 3 | 1990–2026 | 38 |
| 14 | equal protection clause | Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. v. EI Constructors, Inc. | 345 | 3 | 1938–2025 | 24 |
| 15 | two part test | Strickland v. Washington | 323 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 24 |
| 16 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 322 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 29 |
| 17 | res judicata doctrine | Connecticut National Bank v. Rytman | 312 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 27 |
| 18 | Strickland test | Ostolaza v. Warden | 300 | 3 | 1989–2026 | 43 |
| 19 | exhaustion doctrine | Concerned Citizens of Sterling v. Town of Sterling | 286 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 10 |
| 20 | allegations would support defense | Ferryman v. City of Groton | 273 | 3 | 1973–2003 | 0 |
| 21 | habeas court constituted violation | Strickland v. Washington | 273 | 1 | 1993–2026 | 16 |
| 22 | Alford doctrine | North Carolina v. Alford | 262 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 39 |
| 23 | state constitutional claim | State v. Geisler | 256 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 24 |
| 24 | public policy exception | Morris v. Hartford Courant Co. | 251 | 3 | 1973–2026 | 21 |
| 25 | probable cause hearing | State v. McPhail | 237 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 16 |
| 26 | purpose of a special defense | Grant v. Bassman | 232 | 3 | 1991–2024 | 5 |
| 27 | exclusionary rule | State v. Marsala | 229 | 3 | 1954–2026 | 21 |
| 28 | harmless error | Rose v. Clark | 225 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 27 |
| 29 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Nardini v. Manson | 219 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 26 |
| 30 | qualified immunity | Evon v. Andrews | 218 | 3 | 1913–2026 | 7 |
| 31 | second degree violation | Miranda v. Arizona | 217 | 3 | 1982–2025 | 21 |
| 32 | sufficiency of the evidence claim | Samperi v. Inland Wetlands Agency | 210 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 14 |
| 33 | per se rule | A. Secondino & Son, Inc. v. LoRicco | 206 | 3 | 1970–2025 | 10 |
| 34 | statute of limitations defense | Forbes v. Ballaro | 184 | 3 | 1909–2026 | 10 |
| 35 | nonconstitutional claim | State v. Gooch | 182 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 18 |
| 36 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 174 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 36 |
| 37 | sovereign immunity implicates subject matter jurisdiction doctrine | Federal Deposit Insurance v. Peabody, N.E., Inc. | 169 | 3 | 1992–2026 | 8 |
| 38 | Ill defendant | State v. Golding | 167 | 3 | 1969–2013 | 0 |
| 39 | warrant requirement | Mincey v. Arizona | 167 | 3 | 1972–2025 | 10 |
| 40 | application of some erroneous rule | Johnston Jewels, Ltd. v. Leonard | 157 | 3 | 1936–2024 | 1 |
| 41 | federal constitutional claim | State v. Joly | 150 | 3 | 1966–2026 | 11 |
| 42 | plenary standard | Murphy v. Lord Thompson Manor, Inc. | 148 | 3 | 1922–2026 | 20 |
| 43 | intentional and wanton violation | Gargano v. Heyman | 147 | 3 | 1930–2025 | 2 |
| 44 | mootness doctrine | Loisel v. Rowe | 147 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 24 |
| 45 | collateral estoppel doctrine | State v. Ellis | 139 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 11 |
| 46 | clear and convincing standard | In re Tabitha T. | 138 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 12 |
| 47 | attorney-client privilege | Ullmann v. State | 134 | 3 | 1963–2024 | 5 |
| 48 | practice amounting violation | Web Press Services Corp. v. New London Motors, Inc. | 131 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 6 |
| 49 | misconduct was invited defense | State v. Williams | 130 | 3 | 1987–2019 | 0 |
| 50 | reasonable doubt standard | In Re WINSHIP | 129 | 3 | 1955–2025 | 10 |
| 51 | American rule | Marsh, Day & Calhoun v. Solomon | 126 | 3 | 1895–2026 | 16 |
| 52 | method challenge | Gulack v. Gulack | 126 | 3 | 1942–2023 | 1 |
| 53 | fair assurance error | State v. Sawyer | 125 | 2 | 2006–2026 | 22 |
| 54 | cigarette rule | Williams Ford, Inc. v. Hartford Courant Co. | 123 | 3 | 1987–2022 | 4 |
| 55 | continuing course of conduct doctrine | Blanchette v. Barrett | 123 | 3 | 1994–2024 | 8 |
| 56 | trial-like hearing | Standard Tallow Corp. v. Jowdy | 121 | 3 | 1986–2026 | 6 |
| 57 | demanding standard | State v. Myers | 118 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 14 |
| 58 | second special defense | Ferryman v. City of Groton | 116 | 3 | 1920–2025 | 4 |
| 59 | unquestioned rule | Jacobsen v. Jacobsen | 116 | 2 | 1893–2026 | 9 |
| 60 | vagueness challenge | McKinney v. Town of Coventry | 116 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 15 |
| 61 | law of the case doctrine | Breen v. Phelps | 115 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 6 |
| 62 | parol evidence rule | TIE Communications, Inc. v. Kopp | 115 | 3 | 1930–2025 | 5 |
| 63 | personal factors | Simms v. Simms | 114 | 3 | 1921–2026 | 11 |
| 64 | product liability claim | Winslow v. Lewis-Shepard, Inc. | 114 | 3 | 1984–2025 | 2 |
| 65 | three part test | Mathews v. Eldridge | 114 | 3 | 1981–2025 | 12 |
| 66 | third degree violation | Miranda v. Arizona | 111 | 3 | 1984–2025 | 9 |
| 67 | cause-and-prejudice standard | Wainwright v. Sykes | 109 | 3 | 1988–2025 | 11 |
| 68 | habeas hearing | Miller v. Commissioner of Correction | 109 | 3 | 1979–2025 | 7 |
| 69 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 109 | 3 | 1972–2025 | 10 |
| 70 | second prong test | State v. Curcio | 109 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 17 |
| 71 | unpreserved constitutional claim | State v. Golding | 109 | 2 | 1992–2025 | 15 |
| 72 | first special defense | Liljedahl Bros. v. Grigsby | 108 | 3 | 1946–2022 | 2 |
| 73 | flexible principle | Breen v. Phelps | 107 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 15 |
| 74 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Olin Corp. v. Castells | 105 | 3 | 1968–2024 | 6 |
| 75 | bad faith exception | Habetz v. Condon | 103 | 3 | 1989–2026 | 5 |
| 76 | constancy of accusation doctrine | State v. Troupe | 103 | 3 | 1982–2025 | 4 |
| 77 | III defendant | State v. Golding | 101 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 13 |
| 78 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 101 | 3 | 1973–2020 | 0 |
| 79 | Connecticut rule | State v. Doucette | 100 | 3 | 1917–2025 | 5 |
| 80 | distinct inquiry | State v. Williams | 100 | 3 | 1895–2026 | 20 |
| 81 | vehicle challenge | Passini v. Decker | 100 | 3 | 1987–2022 | 3 |
| 82 | consider claim | State v. Evans | 99 | 3 | 1970–2025 | 11 |
| 83 | probation revocation hearing | Payne v. Robinson | 98 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 6 |
| 84 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 96 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 10 |
| 85 | field inquiry | State v. Santiago | 93 | 3 | 1896–2022 | 3 |
| 86 | first prong test | State v. Curcio | 93 | 3 | 1981–2025 | 17 |
| 87 | complainant makes a colorable claim | Maloney v. Pac | 92 | 3 | 1981–2025 | 3 |
| 88 | plain meaning rule | State v. Courchesne | 92 | 3 | 1986–2025 | 28 |
| 89 | right to present defense | Washington v. Texas | 92 | 3 | 1935–2025 | 5 |
| 90 | ex post facto clause | California Department of Corrections v. Morales | 91 | 3 | 1981–2025 | 8 |
| 91 | motor vehicle violation | Dias v. Adams | 91 | 3 | 1964–2026 | 8 |
| 92 | firearm violation | State v. Golding | 90 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 17 |
| 93 | de novo hearing | Kolomiets v. Syncor International Corp. | 89 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 10 |
| 94 | rational basis test | Blakeslee Arpaia Chapman, Inc. v. EI Constructors, Inc. | 88 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 4 |
| 95 | Williams factors | State v. Stevenson | 88 | 2 | 2003–2025 | 7 |
| 96 | ineffective assistance claim | Strickland v. Washington | 87 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 8 |
| 97 | elementary rule | Nikitiuk v. Pishtey | 86 | 3 | 1835–2025 | 2 |
| 98 | record adequately supports claim | State v. Evans | 86 | 3 | 1974–2021 | 1 |
| 99 | claim of instructional error | State v. Kitchens | 85 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 6 |
| 100 | minimum contacts doctrine | United States Trust Co. v. Bohart | 85 | 3 | 1983–2021 | 3 |
| 101 | legally sufficient claim | Petyan v. Ellis | 84 | 3 | 1968–2024 | 6 |
| 102 | restrictive standard | Dolgner v. Alander | 84 | 3 | 1927–2024 | 5 |
| 103 | excluded inquiry | State v. Santiago | 83 | 2 | 1986–2022 | 3 |
| 104 | parental immunity | Dubay v. Irish | 83 | 3 | 1972–2006 | 0 |
| 105 | challenged jury instruction | State v. Denby | 82 | 2 | 1983–2025 | 5 |
| 106 | microscopic search for possible error | State v. Harris | 82 | 3 | 1985–2018 | 0 |
| 107 | four part test | State v. Nardini | 81 | 3 | 1984–2024 | 4 |
| 108 | legislative exception | White v. Burns | 81 | 3 | 1960–2025 | 3 |
| 109 | self-defense claim | State v. Davis | 81 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 12 |
| 110 | appeal was designed test | Carpenter v. Planning & Zoning Commission | 80 | 3 | 1963–2025 | 1 |
| 111 | defendant raises claim | State v. Golding | 80 | 3 | 1966–2024 | 5 |
| 112 | practical test | Briggs v. Becker | 79 | 3 | 1914–2023 | 2 |
| 113 | separation of powers doctrine | Bartholomew v. Schweizer | 79 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 7 |
| 114 | issue of governmental immunity | Gordon v. Bridgeport Housing Authority | 77 | 3 | 1988–2022 | 1 |
| 115 | pertinent legal standard | Strickland v. Washington | 76 | 2 | 2002–2025 | 14 |
| 116 | termination of parental rights hearing | In re Deana E. | 75 | 3 | 1979–2024 | 5 |
| 117 | consideration factors | Delahunty v. Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance | 74 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 2 |
| 118 | faith and credit clause | Packer Plastics, Inc. v. Laundon | 74 | 3 | 1930–2024 | 5 |
| 119 | implied waiver | State v. Kitchens | 74 | 3 | 1928–2022 | 6 |
| 120 | litigant from reasserting claim | Virgo v. Lyons | 74 | 3 | 1988–2021 | 1 |
| 121 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Giles v. City of New Haven | 72 | 3 | 1924–2019 | 0 |
| 122 | defendant argues claim | State v. Golding | 71 | 3 | 1979–2022 | 2 |
| 123 | loss of consortium claim | Izzo v. Colonial Penn Insurance | 71 | 3 | 1979–2025 | 3 |
| 124 | alibi defense | Strickland v. Washington | 70 | 3 | 1974–2024 | 3 |
| 125 | contractual or statutory exception | Rizzo Pool Co. v. Del Grosso | 70 | 3 | 1987–2024 | 2 |
| 126 | deviation standard | Gold v. Greenwich Hospital Ass'n | 70 | 3 | 1987–2024 | 1 |
| 127 | breach standard | Gold v. Greenwich Hospital Ass'n | 69 | 3 | 1878–2025 | 5 |
| 128 | foundation standard | Simms v. Simms | 69 | 3 | 1878–2024 | 1 |
| 129 | four-pronged Golding test | State v. Golding | 69 | 2 | 2004–2025 | 12 |
| 130 | Geisler analysis | State v. Geisler | 69 | 2 | 1996–2026 | 18 |
| 131 | party to raise claim | State v. Dalzell | 69 | 2 | 2005–2026 | 23 |
| 132 | adverse claim | Farrell v. Farrell | 68 | 3 | 1909–2024 | 2 |
| 133 | medical malpractice claim | State v. Miranda | 68 | 3 | 1988–2024 | 5 |
| 134 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 68 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 18 |
| 135 | actionable claim | Sheiman v. Lafayette Bank & Trust Co. | 67 | 3 | 1985–2024 | 1 |
| 136 | federal due process clause | State v. Chapman | 67 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 6 |
| 137 | indemnification claim | Kaplan v. Merberg Wrecking Corporation | 67 | 3 | 1976–2017 | 0 |
| 138 | unjust enrichment is essentially equitable doctrine | Franks v. Lockwood | 67 | 3 | 1966–2024 | 2 |
| 139 | void-for-vagueness doctrine | Smith v. Goguen | 67 | 3 | 1979–2025 | 4 |
| 140 | flexible common sense standard | Fischel v. TKPK, Ltd. | 66 | 3 | 1988–2025 | 3 |
| 141 | minimum national standard | State v. Geisler | 66 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 6 |
| 142 | reviewability claim | State v. Britton | 66 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 9 |
| 143 | third special defense | Mingachos v. CBS, Inc. | 66 | 3 | 1955–2021 | 1 |
| 144 | burden-shifting analysis | McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green | 65 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 13 |
| 145 | fact-based inquiry | State v. Ford | 65 | 3 | 1994–2026 | 13 |
| 146 | identity rule | Angelo Tomasso, Inc. v. Armor Construction & Paving, Inc. | 65 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 4 |
| 147 | instrumentality rule | Angelo Tomasso, Inc. v. Armor Construction & Paving, Inc. | 65 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 4 |
| 148 | lesser included offense instruction | State v. Whistnant | 65 | 3 | 1980–2025 | 3 |
| 149 | respondeat superior doctrine | Larsen Chelsey Realty Co. v. Larsen | 65 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 4 |
| 150 | subject matter jurisdiction requirement | Ajadi v. Commissioner of Correction | 65 | 3 | 1997–2025 | 9 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.