The doctrines District of Columbia 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 | plain error | United States v. Olano | 341 | 1 | 1968–2026 | 26 |
| 2 | due process clause | Bolling v. Sharpe | 278 | 1 | 1933–2026 | 11 |
| 3 | hearsay rule | Ohio v. Roberts | 277 | 1 | 1945–2026 | 11 |
| 4 | fitness requirement | In Re Cater | 201 | 1 | 1993–2026 | 36 |
| 5 | affirmative defense | Whitener v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | 183 | 1 | 1938–2026 | 27 |
| 6 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 181 | 1 | 1968–2024 | 3 |
| 7 | harmless error | Kotteakos v. United States | 180 | 1 | 1976–2026 | 10 |
| 8 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 170 | 1 | 1969–2025 | 8 |
| 9 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 162 | 1 | 1972–2026 | 21 |
| 10 | Fourth Amendment violation | Terry v. Ohio | 125 | 1 | 1971–2026 | 19 |
| 11 | Brady violation | Strickler v. Greene | 121 | 1 | 1975–2026 | 14 |
| 12 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 120 | 1 | 1966–2026 | 14 |
| 13 | per se rule | Matter of Addams | 118 | 1 | 1977–2026 | 11 |
| 14 | fundamental principle | Olevsky v. District of Columbia | 111 | 1 | 1933–2026 | 10 |
| 15 | abuse of discretion standard | Johnson v. United States | 106 | 1 | 1976–2026 | 18 |
| 16 | confrontation clause | Thomas v. United States | 104 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 10 |
| 17 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 101 | 1 | 1969–2026 | 14 |
| 18 | double jeopardy clause | Burks v. United States | 100 | 1 | 1959–2026 | 8 |
| 19 | warrant requirement | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 100 | 1 | 1971–2026 | 15 |
| 20 | Sixth Amendment violation | Strickland v. Washington | 98 | 1 | 1978–2026 | 4 |
| 21 | local rule | Vale Properties, Ltd. v. Canterbury Tales, Inc. | 80 | 1 | 1955–2024 | 6 |
| 22 | probable cause hearing | Jamel Evans v. United States | 76 | 1 | 1970–2026 | 4 |
| 23 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 73 | 1 | 1984–2026 | 7 |
| 24 | Drew analysis | Johnson v. United States | 72 | 1 | 1976–2024 | 2 |
| 25 | effects error | Tyrone Gaither v. United States of America, Charles Tatum v. United States | 67 | 1 | 1972–2023 | 3 |
| 26 | lesser included offense instruction | Sansone v. United States | 67 | 1 | 1975–2021 | 1 |
| 27 | self-defense instruction | Reid v. United States | 66 | 1 | 1975–2025 | 4 |
| 28 | deviation standard | Toy v. District of Columbia | 65 | 1 | 1982–2026 | 7 |
| 29 | res judicata doctrine | Goldkind v. Snider Bros., Inc. | 64 | 1 | 1907–2026 | 7 |
| 30 | insanity defense | Frendak v. United States | 62 | 1 | 1968–2026 | 2 |
| 31 | qualified privilege | Moss v. Stockard | 62 | 1 | 1977–2025 | 6 |
| 32 | speedy trial claim | Barker v. Wingo | 62 | 1 | 1965–2014 | 0 |
| 33 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 57 | 1 | 1981–2026 | 7 |
| 34 | equal protection clause | Bolling v. Sharpe | 57 | 1 | 1970–2024 | 2 |
| 35 | missing witness instruction | Graves v. United States | 57 | 1 | 1968–2022 | 2 |
| 36 | aiding and abetting instruction | Wilson-Bey v. United States | 56 | 1 | 1982–2023 | 3 |
| 37 | collateral order doctrine | Cohen v. Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp. | 56 | 1 | 1975–2026 | 5 |
| 38 | impact error | Johnson v. United States | 56 | 1 | 1964–2026 | 9 |
| 39 | issue affected error | Tyrone Gaither v. United States of America, Charles Tatum v. United States | 56 | 1 | 1972–2026 | 3 |
| 40 | law of the case doctrine | Kritsidimas v. Sheskin | 56 | 1 | 1963–2025 | 4 |
| 41 | Chapman standard | Chapman v. California | 51 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 4 |
| 42 | clear and convincing standard | In Re Petition for Adoption of J. S. R. | 51 | 1 | 1982–2025 | 2 |
| 43 | clear and convincing evidence standard | Santosky v. Kramer | 49 | 1 | 1981–2025 | 3 |
| 44 | preponderance of the evidence standard | In Re Petition for Adoption of J. S. R. | 45 | 1 | 1970–2026 | 3 |
| 45 | American rule | Alyeska Pipeline Service Co. v. Wilderness Society | 44 | 1 | 1957–2024 | 3 |
| 46 | essence of a substantial defense | Arthur Bruce v. United States | 44 | 1 | 1969–1986 | 0 |
| 47 | First Amendment claim | United States v. Olano | 44 | 1 | 1975–2025 | 9 |
| 48 | member bar | Matter of Colson | 44 | 1 | 1967–2022 | 2 |
| 49 | guiding principle | Thelma G. Thompson v. Sylvan Mazo | 43 | 1 | 1971–2024 | 3 |
| 50 | Kotteakos standard | Kotteakos v. United States | 43 | 1 | 1978–2024 | 7 |
| 51 | decisive factors | Tyrone Gaither v. United States of America, Charles Tatum v. United States | 42 | 1 | 1968–2022 | 1 |
| 52 | national standard | Morrison v. MacNamara | 42 | 1 | 1967–2023 | 1 |
| 53 | preponderance standard | Gerstein v. Pugh | 42 | 1 | 1970–2025 | 7 |
| 54 | trial-type hearing | Chevy Chase Citizens Ass'n v. District of Columbia Council | 42 | 1 | 1974–2025 | 3 |
| 55 | breach standard | Psychiatric Institute of Washington v. Allen | 41 | 1 | 1978–2024 | 1 |
| 56 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Ashe v. Swenson | 41 | 1 | 1965–2026 | 3 |
| 57 | corroboration requirement | Arnold v. United States | 41 | 1 | 1963–2019 | 0 |
| 58 | de novo standard | Davis v. United States | 41 | 1 | 1969–2025 | 3 |
| 59 | kind analysis | Wayte v. United States | 41 | 1 | 1974–2018 | 0 |
| 60 | corresponding federal rule | Campbell v. United States | 40 | 1 | 1976–2022 | 3 |
| 61 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 39 | 1 | 1974–2024 | 5 |
| 62 | attorney-client privilege | Upjohn Co. v. United States | 38 | 1 | 1979–2025 | 7 |
| 63 | demanding standard | Illinois v. Wardlow | 38 | 1 | 1970–2024 | 4 |
| 64 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Boyd v. United States | 37 | 1 | 1972–2025 | 2 |
| 65 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 35 | 1 | 1974–2026 | 5 |
| 66 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Quin v. George Washington University | 35 | 1 | 1944–2026 | 3 |
| 67 | constitutional harmless error | Chapman v. California | 34 | 1 | 1984–2024 | 1 |
| 68 | crucial test | Florida v. Bostick | 34 | 1 | 1982–2026 | 4 |
| 69 | lesser standard | Kotteakos v. United States | 34 | 1 | 1970–2024 | 1 |
| 70 | test for plain error | United States v. Olano | 34 | 1 | 1985–2025 | 13 |
| 71 | factfinding hearing | Matter of Dwyer | 33 | 1 | 1972–2013 | 0 |
| 72 | plain view doctrine | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 32 | 1 | 1973–2025 | 5 |
| 73 | anti-deadlock instruction | Winters v. United States | 31 | 1 | 1985–2023 | 2 |
| 74 | consent defense | Schneckloth v. Bustamonte | 31 | 1 | 1984–2023 | 3 |
| 75 | forum non conveniens doctrine | Gulf Oil Corp. v. Gilbert | 31 | 1 | 1957–2015 | 0 |
| 76 | Maryland rule | In Re Gilbert | 31 | 1 | 1958–2022 | 1 |
| 77 | prima facie violation | Duren v. Missouri | 31 | 1 | 1976–2025 | 2 |
| 78 | reasoned analysis | 31 | 1 | 1978–2021 | 2 | |
| 79 | available challenge | Head v. United States | 30 | 1 | 1980–2025 | 3 |
| 80 | bad faith exception | Synanon Foundation, Inc. v. Bernstein | 30 | 1 | 1984–2024 | 4 |
| 81 | end inquiry | United States v. Walton | 30 | 1 | 1974–2026 | 4 |
| 82 | statute of limitations defense | Whitener v. Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority | 30 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 2 |
| 83 | unanimity requirement | Scarborough v. United States | 30 | 1 | 1983–2017 | 0 |
| 84 | Winters instruction | Winters v. United States | 30 | 1 | 1976–2023 | 2 |
| 85 | alibi defense | Gray v. United States | 29 | 1 | 1972–2008 | 0 |
| 86 | need hearing | United States v. Turner | 29 | 1 | 1978–2024 | 1 |
| 87 | pleading standard | Ashcroft v. Iqbal | 29 | 1 | 1946–2024 | 5 |
| 88 | pretrial suppression hearing | Simmons v. United States | 29 | 1 | 1975–2020 | 0 |
| 89 | vagueness challenge | In Re Petition for Adoption of J. S. R. | 29 | 1 | 1972–2021 | 1 |
| 90 | precise standard | In Re Steele | 28 | 1 | 1950–2024 | 1 |
| 91 | Roundtree factors | In Re Roundtree | 28 | 1 | 1991–2026 | 4 |
| 92 | standing test | Grayson v. AT & T CORP. | 28 | 1 | 1975–2024 | 7 |
| 93 | witness defense | Carter v. United States | 28 | 1 | 1974–2021 | 1 |
| 94 | agency hearing | W. Willard Wirtz, Secretary of Labor v. Baldor Electric Company | 27 | 1 | 1967–2025 | 3 |
| 95 | Batson challenge | Batson v. Kentucky | 27 | 1 | 1992–2026 | 4 |
| 96 | defamation claim | Moss v. Stockard | 27 | 1 | 1991–2026 | 6 |
| 97 | excited utterance exception | Odemns v. United States | 27 | 1 | 1968–2025 | 1 |
| 98 | exhaustion requirement | Barnett v. District of Columbia Department of Employment Services | 27 | 1 | 1985–2017 | 0 |
| 99 | finality requirement | Cohen v. Beneficial Industrial Loan Corp. | 27 | 1 | 1980–2026 | 4 |
| 100 | forfeited error | Johnson v. United States | 27 | 1 | 2002–2024 | 8 |
| 101 | merger doctrine | Byrd v. United States | 27 | 1 | 1966–2024 | 2 |
| 102 | record for legal error | Irick v. United States | 27 | 1 | 1989–2025 | 2 |
| 103 | restricted line inquiry | Springer v. United States | 27 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 2 |
| 104 | totality of the circumstances analysis | Illinois v. Gates | 27 | 1 | 1976–2026 | 8 |
| 105 | at-will doctrine | Carl v. Children's Hospital | 26 | 1 | 1991–2018 | 0 |
| 106 | estoppel rule | Wieck v. District of Columbia Board of Zoning Adjustment | 26 | 1 | 1953–2015 | 0 |
| 107 | exacting standard | Homan v. Goyal | 26 | 1 | 1988–2024 | 3 |
| 108 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 26 | 1 | 1951–2026 | 7 |
| 109 | identification exception | Brown v. United States | 26 | 1 | 1975–2015 | 0 |
| 110 | mootness doctrine | Southern Pacific Terminal Co. v. Interstate Commerce Commission | 26 | 1 | 1964–2024 | 5 |
| 111 | necessary inquiry | King v. District of Columbia Department of Employment Services | 26 | 1 | 1976–2021 | 1 |
| 112 | post-trial hearing | Strickland v. Washington | 26 | 1 | 1978–2015 | 0 |
| 113 | sovereign immunity | Powell v. District of Columbia | 26 | 1 | 1966–2024 | 4 |
| 114 | structural error | Arizona v. Fulminante | 26 | 1 | 1997–2025 | 5 |
| 115 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 25 | 1 | 1968–2022 | 1 |
| 116 | granting privilege | Kercheval v. United States | 25 | 1 | 1951–2026 | 4 |
| 117 | public policy exception | Carl v. Children's Hospital | 25 | 1 | 1991–2026 | 4 |
| 118 | rigid rule | Foster v. United States | 25 | 1 | 1973–2024 | 1 |
| 119 | Smith instruction | Smith v. United States | 25 | 1 | 1983–2024 | 2 |
| 120 | special unanimity instruction | Scarborough v. United States | 25 | 1 | 1985–2015 | 0 |
| 121 | blanket privilege | Vaughn v. United States | 24 | 1 | 1977–2025 | 1 |
| 122 | ineffective assistance claim | Strickland v. Washington | 24 | 1 | 1981–2023 | 6 |
| 123 | legitimate claim | Board of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth | 24 | 1 | 1974–2021 | 1 |
| 124 | medical malpractice claim | Ohler v. Tacoma General Hospital | 24 | 1 | 1982–2026 | 3 |
| 125 | motion without hearing | Strickland v. Washington | 24 | 1 | 1974–2025 | 1 |
| 126 | request for a particular instruction | Psychiatric Institute of Washington v. Allen | 24 | 1 | 1986–2025 | 2 |
| 127 | respondeat superior doctrine | Boykin v. District of Columbia | 24 | 1 | 1945–2023 | 2 |
| 128 | state of mind exception | Clark v. United States | 24 | 1 | 1978–2023 | 1 |
| 129 | Bar Counsel brief | In Re Kersey | 23 | 1 | 1985–2026 | 1 |
| 130 | business records exception | Sullivan v. United States | 23 | 1 | 1978–2021 | 1 |
| 131 | explicit waiver | In re J.M. & D.M. S.M. | 23 | 1 | 1978–2019 | 0 |
| 132 | Frye test | Frye v. United States | 23 | 1 | 1979–2026 | 6 |
| 133 | immediate cautionary instruction | Johnson v. United States | 23 | 1 | 1972–2026 | 1 |
| 134 | laches doctrine | Gull Airborne Instruments, Inc. v. Caspar W. Weinberger, Secretary of Defense of the U.S.A. | 23 | 1 | 1976–2024 | 3 |
| 135 | mens rea requirement | Elonis v. United States | 23 | 1 | 1975–2025 | 5 |
| 136 | motions hearing | Terry v. Ohio | 23 | 1 | 1973–2024 | 1 |
| 137 | non-constitutional error | Kotteakos v. United States | 23 | 1 | 1991–2024 | 4 |
| 138 | addict exception | Grant v. United States | 22 | 1 | 1971–2011 | 0 |
| 139 | causal relationship between violation | O'NEIL v. Bergan | 22 | 1 | 1979–2024 | 1 |
| 140 | default rule | In re Chaganti | 22 | 1 | 2001–2026 | 9 |
| 141 | essence claim | Henderson v. Snider Bros., Inc. | 22 | 1 | 1977–2024 | 1 |
| 142 | retaliation claim | Howard University v. Green | 22 | 1 | 1999–2025 | 3 |
| 143 | statement without privilege | Oparaugo v. Watts | 22 | 1 | 1997–2026 | 6 |
| 144 | status hearing | Oliver v. United States | 22 | 1 | 1981–2025 | 3 |
| 145 | supplemental instruction | Davis v. United States | 22 | 1 | 1974–2024 | 1 |
| 146 | accepted and customary rule | Matter of Colson | 21 | 1 | 1982–2013 | 0 |
| 147 | contributory negligence instruction | Sinai v. Polinger Co. | 21 | 1 | 1976–2021 | 1 |
| 148 | disputed claim | Pierola v. Moschonas | 21 | 1 | 1960–2025 | 2 |
| 149 | Monroe-Farrell inquiry | Monroe v. United States | 21 | 1 | 1980–2019 | 0 |
| 150 | presence hearing | United States v. Ronald Gene Sears, United States of America v. Chandra Werner, United States of America v. Hubert Strozyk | 21 | 1 | 1973–2019 | 0 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.