The doctrines Delaware 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 | business judgment rule | Aronson v. Lewis | 450 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 125 |
| 2 | fairness standard | Weinberger v. UOP, Inc. | 212 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 66 |
| 3 | plain error | Wainwright v. State | 202 | 3 | 1925–2026 | 59 |
| 4 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 200 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 75 |
| 5 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 193 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 75 |
| 6 | affirmative defense | Reid v. Spazio | 182 | 3 | 1961–2026 | 82 |
| 7 | due process clause | International Shoe Co. v. Washington | 168 | 5 | 1933–2026 | 38 |
| 8 | abuse of discretion standard | Brehm v. Eisner | 145 | 4 | 1979–2026 | 56 |
| 9 | derivative claim | Tooley v. Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette, Inc. | 124 | 3 | 1957–2026 | 44 |
| 10 | bad faith exception | Johnston v. Arbitrium (Cayman Islands) Handels AG | 122 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 65 |
| 11 | forum selection clause | National Industries Group v. Carlyle Investment Management L.L.C. | 108 | 4 | 1996–2026 | 64 |
| 12 | unjust enrichment claim | Nemec v. Shrader | 101 | 3 | 2001–2026 | 62 |
| 13 | aiding and abetting claim | Malpiede v. Townson | 97 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 37 |
| 14 | pleading standard | Central Mortgage Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC | 97 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 51 |
| 15 | Delaware rule | Central Mortgage Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC | 93 | 3 | 1928–2026 | 29 |
| 16 | fundamental principle | Paramount Communications Inc. v. QVC Network Inc. | 90 | 4 | 1930–2026 | 24 |
| 17 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 89 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 27 |
| 18 | direct claim | Tooley v. Donaldson, Lufkin, & Jenrette, Inc. | 89 | 3 | 1959–2026 | 33 |
| 19 | laches doctrine | Harold Kraft v. Wisdomtree Investments, Inc. | 83 | 3 | 1938–2026 | 43 |
| 20 | demand requirement | Aronson v. Lewis | 79 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 27 |
| 21 | VOP hearing | Kurzmann v. State | 79 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 24 |
| 22 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 77 | 4 | 1975–2025 | 15 |
| 23 | breach of fiduciary duty claim | Nemec v. Shrader | 75 | 3 | 1996–2026 | 31 |
| 24 | attorney-client privilege | 74 | 4 | 1963–2026 | 18 | |
| 25 | choice-of-law analysis | Deuley v. DynCorp International, Inc. | 74 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 34 |
| 26 | disclosure claim | Loudon v. Archer-Daniels-Midland Co. | 74 | 3 | 1980–2025 | 28 |
| 27 | exclusionary rule | Jones v. State | 72 | 2 | 1961–2026 | 21 |
| 28 | implied covenant claim | Nemec v. Shrader | 72 | 3 | 2006–2026 | 42 |
| 29 | forum non conveniens doctrine | Martinez v. E.i. Dupont De Nemours & Co. | 68 | 4 | 1961–2026 | 19 |
| 30 | Caremark claim | Stone v. Ritter | 66 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 31 |
| 31 | materiality standard | TSC Industries, Inc. v. Northway, Inc. | 66 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 28 |
| 32 | merits of the postconviction claim | Younger v. State | 65 | 1 | 2015–2026 | 37 |
| 33 | Sixth Amendment violation | Wright v. State | 64 | 2 | 1976–2026 | 17 |
| 34 | hearsay rule | Demby v. State | 61 | 3 | 1925–2026 | 11 |
| 35 | Daubert factors | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 59 | 3 | 2000–2026 | 31 |
| 36 | non-exculpated claim | Leal v. Meeks | 57 | 2 | 2013–2026 | 26 |
| 37 | demand futility analysis | Aronson v. Lewis | 56 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 27 |
| 38 | law of the case doctrine | Gannett Co., Inc. v. Kanaga | 56 | 3 | 2000–2026 | 24 |
| 39 | plain error is limited to material doctrine | Wainwright v. State | 55 | 2 | 1986–2026 | 18 |
| 40 | warrant requirement | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 54 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 20 |
| 41 | waste claim | West Point-Pepperell, Inc. v. J.P. Stevens & Co. | 54 | 2 | 1999–2026 | 19 |
| 42 | Aronson test | Aronson v. Lewis | 53 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 10 |
| 43 | complaint effectively negate claim | Malpiede v. Townson | 53 | 4 | 2003–2026 | 40 |
| 44 | interest in contesting claim | Rollins International, Inc. v. International Hydronics Corp. | 53 | 3 | 1952–2026 | 27 |
| 45 | McWane doctrine | McWane Cast Iron Pipe Corp. v. McDowell-Wellman Engineering Co. | 52 | 3 | 1998–2026 | 22 |
| 46 | default rule | Reis v. Hazelett Strip-Casting Corp. | 51 | 3 | 1996–2026 | 24 |
| 47 | integration clause | Kronenberg v. Katz | 50 | 3 | 2003–2026 | 31 |
| 48 | fiduciary duty claim | Nemec v. Shrader | 49 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 23 |
| 49 | Cryo-Maid factors | Sewell v. State | 48 | 3 | 1991–2026 | 27 |
| 50 | double jeopardy clause | Blockburger v. United States | 48 | 3 | 1974–2025 | 8 |
| 51 | contractual standard | Allen v. El Paso Pipeline GP Company, L.L.C. | 47 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 23 |
| 52 | controversy claim | Rollins International, Inc. v. International Hydronics Corp. | 47 | 3 | 1952–2026 | 21 |
| 53 | particularity requirement | Wheeler v. State | 47 | 3 | 1990–2026 | 24 |
| 54 | parol evidence rule | GMG Capital Investments, LLC v. Athenian Venture Partners I | 46 | 3 | 1954–2026 | 13 |
| 55 | res judicata doctrine | LaPoint v. AmerisourceBergen Corp. | 46 | 3 | 1935–2024 | 17 |
| 56 | equal protection clause | Batson v. Kentucky | 45 | 4 | 1937–2026 | 8 |
| 57 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 45 | 3 | 1972–2025 | 4 |
| 58 | internal affairs doctrine | McDermott Inc. v. Lewis | 45 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 8 |
| 59 | penalty hearing | Red Dog v. State | 45 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 3 |
| 60 | Revlon claim | Malpiede v. Townson | 45 | 2 | 1989–2025 | 15 |
| 61 | operative standard | Kahn v. M & F Worldwide Corp. | 44 | 3 | 2002–2026 | 24 |
| 62 | Rales test | Rales v. Blasband Ex Rel. Easco Hand Tools, Inc. | 44 | 2 | 1995–2021 | 6 |
| 63 | cognizable claim | Solomon v. Pathe Communications Corp. | 43 | 3 | 1997–2026 | 19 |
| 64 | guilty plea challenge | Strickland v. Washington | 42 | 2 | 1976–2025 | 11 |
| 65 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 42 | 4 | 1979–2026 | 14 |
| 66 | unclean hands doctrine | Nakahara v. NS 1991 American Trust | 42 | 3 | 1934–2026 | 21 |
| 67 | harmless error | Chapman v. California | 40 | 3 | 1973–2025 | 5 |
| 68 | sovereign immunity | Shellhorn & Hill, Inc. v. State | 40 | 3 | 1960–2025 | 6 |
| 69 | ineffective assistance claim | Strickland v. Washington | 39 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 29 |
| 70 | claim that a new rule | Younger v. State | 37 | 2 | 2014–2026 | 10 |
| 71 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Messick v. Star Enterprise | 37 | 4 | 1956–2026 | 16 |
| 72 | per se rule | Chapman v. California | 36 | 5 | 1983–2026 | 8 |
| 73 | tortious interference claim | Bhole, Inc. v. Shore Investments, Inc. | 36 | 3 | 1995–2026 | 24 |
| 74 | Unocal analysis | Unocal Corp. v. Mesa Petroleum Co. | 35 | 2 | 1988–2024 | 9 |
| 75 | DCF analysis | DFC Global Corporation v. Muirfield Value Partners, L.P. | 34 | 2 | 1999–2024 | 7 |
| 76 | indemnification claim | LaPoint v. AmerisourceBergen Corp. | 34 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 17 |
| 77 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Estate of Osborn Ex Rel. Osborn v. Kemp | 34 | 4 | 1972–2026 | 9 |
| 78 | Terry stop | Flowers v. State | 34 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 13 |
| 79 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 34 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 6 |
| 80 | defamation claim | Turner v. State | 32 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 17 |
| 81 | good faith exception | Dorsey v. State | 32 | 3 | 1952–2026 | 11 |
| 82 | de novo standard | Ploof v. State | 31 | 5 | 1969–2026 | 13 |
| 83 | of review standard | Merrill v. Crothall-American, Inc. | 31 | 3 | 2015–2025 | 10 |
| 84 | defendant notice claim | Central Mortgage Co. v. Morgan Stanley Mortgage Capital Holdings LLC | 30 | 3 | 2014–2026 | 6 |
| 85 | Fourth Amendment violation | Katz v. United States | 30 | 3 | 1968–2026 | 8 |
| 86 | minimum contacts analysis | Istituto Bancario Italiano SpA v. Hunter Engineering Co. | 30 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 13 |
| 87 | promissory estoppel doctrine | SIGA Technologies, Inc. v. PharmAthene, Inc. | 30 | 3 | 1954–2025 | 9 |
| 88 | Restatement rule | Barrett v. State | 30 | 3 | 1945–2026 | 7 |
| 89 | American rule | Montgomery Cellular Holding Co. v. Dobler | 29 | 3 | 1899–2026 | 13 |
| 90 | Barker factors | Barker v. Wingo | 28 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 14 |
| 91 | Brophy claim | In Re Oracle Corp. | 28 | 2 | 2003–2026 | 14 |
| 92 | civil conspiracy claim | Nicolet, Inc. v. Nutt | 28 | 3 | 2006–2026 | 11 |
| 93 | demanding standard | Lloyd v. State | 28 | 3 | 1991–2025 | 17 |
| 94 | IAC claim | Strickland v. Washington | 28 | 2 | 2016–2026 | 20 |
| 95 | enforce claim | Stuart Kingston, Inc. v. Robinson | 27 | 3 | 2014–2026 | 15 |
| 96 | Franks hearing | Franks v. Delaware | 27 | 3 | 2006–2026 | 14 |
| 97 | probable cause standard | Dorsey v. State | 27 | 4 | 1969–2026 | 9 |
| 98 | qualified immunity | Pearson v. Callahan | 27 | 3 | 1958–2024 | 6 |
| 99 | settlement hearing | Braun v. Fleming-Hall Tobacco Co. | 27 | 3 | 1959–2026 | 9 |
| 100 | two part analysis | Strickland v. Washington | 27 | 3 | 1979–2025 | 7 |
| 101 | fiduciary exception | 26 | 2 | 1958–2026 | 14 | |
| 102 | standing analysis | Stuart Kingston, Inc. v. Robinson | 26 | 3 | 1993–2025 | 14 |
| 103 | credible basis standard | Seinfeld v. Verizon Communications, Inc. | 25 | 2 | 2006–2025 | 10 |
| 104 | expected standard | Abex Corporation v. Todd | 25 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 3 |
| 105 | fact-intensive inquiry | Auriga Capital Corp. v. Gatz Properties, LLC | 25 | 3 | 2016–2026 | 15 |
| 106 | personal jurisdiction defense | Burger King Corp. v. Rudzewicz | 25 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 14 |
| 107 | confrontation clause | Chapman v. California | 24 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 8 |
| 108 | speedy trial violation | Barker v. Wingo | 24 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 8 |
| 109 | Sugarland factors | Sugarland Industries, Inc. v. Thomas | 24 | 2 | 2012–2025 | 13 |
| 110 | time of discovery rule | Layton v. Allen | 24 | 3 | 1968–2025 | 5 |
| 111 | tolling doctrine | Maniscalco v. State | 24 | 4 | 2009–2026 | 12 |
| 112 | collateral source rule | Yarrington v. Thornburg | 23 | 4 | 1964–2026 | 4 |
| 113 | conversion claim | Kuroda v. SPJS Holdings, L.L.C. | 23 | 3 | 1992–2025 | 13 |
| 114 | corporate claim | Aronson v. Lewis | 23 | 2 | 1938–2025 | 6 |
| 115 | corporate opportunity doctrine | Broz v. Cellular Information Systems, Inc. | 23 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 7 |
| 116 | duty of care violation | Flood v. Synutra International, Inc. | 23 | 2 | 1989–2023 | 7 |
| 117 | duty of loyalty claim | Leal v. Meeks | 23 | 2 | 1995–2025 | 8 |
| 118 | ex post facto clause | State v. Cohen | 23 | 2 | 1985–2023 | 8 |
| 119 | Getz factors | Getz v. State | 23 | 2 | 1993–2025 | 9 |
| 120 | intermediate standard | Revlon, Inc. v. MacAndrews & Forbes Holdings, Inc. | 23 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 11 |
| 121 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 22 | 2 | 1980–2025 | 4 |
| 122 | clear anti-reliance clause | Kronenberg v. Katz | 22 | 2 | 2004–2026 | 11 |
| 123 | enhanced scrutiny standard | Paramount Communications Inc. v. QVC Network Inc. | 22 | 2 | 1993–2024 | 10 |
| 124 | fair price inquiry | Weinberger v. UOP, Inc. | 22 | 2 | 1997–2025 | 10 |
| 125 | five-step test | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 22 | 3 | 1993–2026 | 12 |
| 126 | unanimity instruction | Probst v. State | 22 | 3 | 1988–2025 | 4 |
| 127 | claim for plain error | Wainwright v. State | 21 | 2 | 2014–2026 | 8 |
| 128 | contra proferentem doctrine | Norton v. K-Sea Transportation Partners L.P. | 21 | 3 | 2016–2025 | 14 |
| 129 | declaratory judgment claim | Stroud v. Milliken Entersprises, Inc. | 21 | 3 | 2014–2026 | 13 |
| 130 | fraudulent inducement claim | Abry Partners V, L.P. v. F & W Acquisition LLC | 21 | 2 | 2014–2025 | 12 |
| 131 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Faretta v. California | 21 | 3 | 1977–2026 | 5 |
| 132 | legal significance doctrine | Orzeck v. Englehart | 21 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 7 |
| 133 | reasonably conceivable claim | Malpiede v. Townson | 21 | 3 | 2015–2026 | 15 |
| 134 | ripeness requirement | Stroud v. Milliken Entersprises, Inc. | 21 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 10 |
| 135 | source doctrine | Lopez-Vazquez v. State | 21 | 3 | 1965–2026 | 13 |
| 136 | Tooley test | Employees Retirement System of St. Louis v. TC Pipelines GP, Inc. | 21 | 2 | 2007–2024 | 11 |
| 137 | actionable claim | VLIW TECHNOLOGY, LLC v. Hewlett-Packard Co. | 20 | 3 | 2004–2025 | 10 |
| 138 | alibi instruction | Gardner v. State | 20 | 3 | 1979–2025 | 6 |
| 139 | clear and convincing standard | Matter of Tavel | 20 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 8 |
| 140 | core defense | Bradley v. State | 20 | 3 | 1989–2026 | 6 |
| 141 | Corwin doctrine | Wood v. State | 20 | 2 | 2016–2025 | 6 |
| 142 | discussion analysis | Ortiz v. State | 20 | 3 | 1972–2025 | 9 |
| 143 | economic loss doctrine | Spence v. Funk | 20 | 4 | 1992–2025 | 10 |
| 144 | fraudulent concealment doctrine | Ewing v. Beck | 20 | 3 | 1968–2026 | 13 |
| 145 | inevitable discovery doctrine | Cook v. State | 20 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 8 |
| 146 | lesser included offense instruction | Beck v. Alabama | 20 | 2 | 1992–2025 | 4 |
| 147 | statute of limitations defense | Samoluk v. Basco, Inc. | 20 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 8 |
| 148 | successful Sixth Amendment claim | Strickland v. Washington | 20 | 1 | 2015–2026 | 8 |
| 149 | availability privilege | 19 | 3 | 1957–2025 | 3 | |
| 150 | Batson analysis | Batson v. Kentucky | 19 | 2 | 1989–2025 | 3 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.