The doctrines Kansas 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 | fundamental rule | City of Wichita v. 200 South Broadway, Ltd. Partnership | 901 | 3 | 1895–2026 | 110 |
| 2 | abuse of discretion standard | State v. Reid | 624 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 128 |
| 3 | reasonable doubt error | State v. Ward | 495 | 2 | 1925–2026 | 128 |
| 4 | de novo standard | State v. Woolverton | 467 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 103 |
| 5 | due process clause | In Re Ruffalo | 451 | 3 | 1904–2026 | 65 |
| 6 | harmless error | Chapman v. California | 308 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 35 |
| 7 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 262 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 22 |
| 8 | cumulative error | State v. Tully | 247 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 110 |
| 9 | competent evidence standard | State v. Ackward | 237 | 2 | 1992–2026 | 27 |
| 10 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 236 | 2 | 1953–2026 | 24 |
| 11 | unlimited standard | State v. Ward | 232 | 2 | 1926–2026 | 67 |
| 12 | affirmative defense | State v. Staten | 213 | 2 | 1889–2026 | 34 |
| 13 | warrant requirement | State v. Neighbors | 184 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 39 |
| 14 | hearsay rule | Ohio v. Roberts | 177 | 2 | 1922–2026 | 21 |
| 15 | equal protection clause | State v. Limon | 162 | 3 | 1933–2026 | 18 |
| 16 | contemporaneous objection rule | State v. King | 154 | 2 | 1965–2026 | 44 |
| 17 | constitutional harmlessness inquiry | Chapman v. California | 149 | 2 | 2014–2026 | 101 |
| 18 | party benefitting error | State v. Ward | 143 | 2 | 2011–2026 | 49 |
| 19 | constitutional harmless error | Chapman v. California | 139 | 2 | 1996–2026 | 53 |
| 20 | Fourth Amendment violation | United States v. Leon | 130 | 2 | 1973–2026 | 12 |
| 21 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 130 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 50 |
| 22 | separation of powers doctrine | Leek v. Theis | 127 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 14 |
| 23 | cumulative effect rule | State v. Plaskett | 124 | 2 | 1992–2024 | 5 |
| 24 | lesser included offense instruction | State v. Plummer | 123 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 31 |
| 25 | double jeopardy clause | State v. Schoonover | 117 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 14 |
| 26 | invited error | State v. Fleming | 117 | 2 | 1961–2026 | 39 |
| 27 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 114 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 20 |
| 28 | rational basis test | Farley v. Engelken | 114 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 20 |
| 29 | first two factors | Chapman v. California | 113 | 2 | 2004–2025 | 4 |
| 30 | Kansas rule | Williams v. McKinney | 108 | 2 | 1913–2026 | 6 |
| 31 | felony-murder rule | State v. Underwood | 107 | 2 | 1967–2022 | 7 |
| 32 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 106 | 2 | 1992–2025 | 46 |
| 33 | Edgar factors | State v. Edgar | 104 | 2 | 2006–2026 | 55 |
| 34 | PIK instruction | State v. Herbel | 102 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 10 |
| 35 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 100 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 11 |
| 36 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 96 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 12 |
| 37 | party benefiting error | State v. Ward | 96 | 2 | 2011–2026 | 41 |
| 38 | pattern instruction | State v. Moncla | 96 | 2 | 1967–2026 | 17 |
| 39 | unanimity instruction | State v. King | 96 | 2 | 1993–2026 | 21 |
| 40 | Apprendi rule | Apprendi v. New Jersey | 92 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 34 |
| 41 | res judicata doctrine | State v. Kingsley | 90 | 2 | 1903–2024 | 17 |
| 42 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 87 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 7 |
| 43 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 84 | 2 | 1969–2024 | 2 |
| 44 | performance defense | Strickland v. Washington | 84 | 2 | 1990–2025 | 34 |
| 45 | witness hearing | State v. Bright | 84 | 3 | 1885–2024 | 2 |
| 46 | newly asserted claim | State v. Godfrey | 80 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 25 |
| 47 | self-defense instruction | State v. Childers | 77 | 2 | 1967–2026 | 20 |
| 48 | probable cause standard | State v. Ultreras | 75 | 2 | 1975–2024 | 13 |
| 49 | reasonable probability error | State v. Ward | 75 | 2 | 2011–2026 | 15 |
| 50 | totality of the circumstances test | United States v. Arvizu | 75 | 2 | 1976–2026 | 12 |
| 51 | mootness doctrine | State v. Montgomery | 74 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 36 |
| 52 | prosecutorial error | State v. Bodine | 74 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 59 |
| 53 | legal or factual error | State v. Ward | 73 | 2 | 2017–2026 | 49 |
| 54 | discretionary function exception | Dougan v. Rossville Drainage District | 69 | 3 | 1982–2024 | 5 |
| 55 | prosecutorial misconduct test | State v. King | 69 | 2 | 2001–2025 | 7 |
| 56 | sufficiently definite warning | State v. Dunn | 68 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 5 |
| 57 | Batson challenge | Batson v. Kentucky | 65 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 13 |
| 58 | party requesting instruction | State v. Scott | 64 | 2 | 1990–2021 | 1 |
| 59 | emergency doctrine | State v. Sanchez-Loredo | 63 | 2 | 1939–2024 | 7 |
| 60 | party claiming error | State v. Crosby | 63 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 18 |
| 61 | factual or legal error | In re Interest of R.S., P.S., and A.S. line | 60 | 2 | 2013–2026 | 45 |
| 62 | law of the case doctrine | State v. Collier | 58 | 2 | 1991–2025 | 22 |
| 63 | lesser included instruction | State v. Soto | 57 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 12 |
| 64 | Ortiz exception | State v. Phinney | 57 | 2 | 1991–2026 | 14 |
| 65 | progression analysis | State v. Ward | 57 | 2 | 2012–2022 | 8 |
| 66 | aiding and abetting instruction | State v. Llamas | 55 | 2 | 1975–2026 | 10 |
| 67 | contours rule | State v. Carter | 55 | 2 | 2005–2024 | 2 |
| 68 | reversibility inquiry | State v. Williams | 55 | 2 | 2012–2026 | 19 |
| 69 | Brady violation | State v. WARRIOR | 54 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 22 |
| 70 | plain view exception | State v. Galloway | 54 | 2 | 1971–2022 | 1 |
| 71 | Doyle violation | State v. Edwards | 53 | 2 | 1977–2024 | 4 |
| 72 | offense violation | State v. Schoonover | 53 | 2 | 1909–2026 | 10 |
| 73 | commerce clause | State v. Payne | 51 | 3 | 1892–2019 | 0 |
| 74 | operative construction doctrine | State, Department of Social & Rehabilitation Services v. Public Employee Relations Board of the Kansas Department of Human Resources | 51 | 3 | 1989–2022 | 1 |
| 75 | ex post facto violation | Weaver v. Graham | 50 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 4 |
| 76 | insanity defense | Milton R. Dusky v. United States | 50 | 2 | 1978–2022 | 3 |
| 77 | voluntary intoxication instruction | State v. Betancourt | 50 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 8 |
| 78 | Frye test | Frye v. United States | 48 | 2 | 1981–2020 | 0 |
| 79 | per se rule | State v. Pendleton | 48 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 6 |
| 80 | statute of limitations bar | Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway Co. v. Atchison Grain Co. | 48 | 2 | 1905–2025 | 11 |
| 81 | alibi defense | State v. Peters | 47 | 2 | 1938–2025 | 7 |
| 82 | blood alcohol test | South Dakota v. Neville | 47 | 2 | 1966–2024 | 3 |
| 83 | harmlessness inquiry | Chapman v. California | 47 | 2 | 2006–2026 | 14 |
| 84 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Faretta v. California | 47 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 10 |
| 85 | probation revocation hearing | State v. Yura | 47 | 2 | 1980–2025 | 14 |
| 86 | search warrant requirement | State v. Neighbors | 47 | 2 | 1985–2022 | 3 |
| 87 | voluntary manslaughter instruction | State v. Bernhardt | 47 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 9 |
| 88 | Jackson v. Denno hearing | Jackson v. Denno | 46 | 2 | 1969–2025 | 7 |
| 89 | parol evidence rule | Thurman v. Trim | 46 | 2 | 1914–2020 | 0 |
| 90 | party making claim | Friedman v. Kansas State Board of Healing Arts | 46 | 2 | 1934–2025 | 22 |
| 91 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Apprendi v. New Jersey | 46 | 3 | 1993–2026 | 10 |
| 92 | qualified privilege | Turner v. Halliburton Co. | 46 | 2 | 1908–2026 | 7 |
| 93 | categorical rule | Graham v. Florida | 45 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 6 |
| 94 | Freeman factors | State v. Freeman | 45 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 6 |
| 95 | M'Naghten rule | State v. Boan | 45 | 2 | 1960–2020 | 0 |
| 96 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Mayes v. Kansas City Power & Light Co. | 45 | 2 | 1913–2020 | 0 |
| 97 | Sixth Amendment violation | Strickland v. Washington | 45 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 13 |
| 98 | sufficiency of the evidence standard | State v. Aguirre | 45 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 20 |
| 99 | stare decisis doctrine | Crist v. Hunan Palace, Inc. | 44 | 2 | 1948–2025 | 16 |
| 100 | workers compensation claim | Murphy v. City of Topeka | 44 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 5 |
| 101 | Eighth Amendment challenge | Graham v. Florida | 43 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 15 |
| 102 | home rule | Claflin v. Walsh | 43 | 3 | 1957–2019 | 0 |
| 103 | means analysis | State v. Timley | 43 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 4 |
| 104 | second step analysis | State v. Williams | 43 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 12 |
| 105 | Barker factors | Barker v. Wingo | 42 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 12 |
| 106 | demanding standard | Alabama v. White | 42 | 2 | 1992–2026 | 8 |
| 107 | lesser included crime instruction | State v. Williams | 42 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 5 |
| 108 | Allen-type instruction | Allen v. United States | 41 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 2 |
| 109 | right to present defense | State v. Thomas | 41 | 2 | 1905–2025 | 8 |
| 110 | scrutiny standard | Farley v. Engelken | 41 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 6 |
| 111 | bench bar | Caperton v. A. T. Massey Coal Co., Inc. | 40 | 2 | 1871–2024 | 1 |
| 112 | clear and convincing evidence standard | In the Interest of B.D.-Y. | 40 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 13 |
| 113 | noted doctrine | Miller v. Beech Aircraft Corporation | 40 | 2 | 1961–2021 | 1 |
| 114 | safe rule | State v. Spencer Gifts, LLC | 40 | 2 | 1903–2024 | 4 |
| 115 | structural error | Arizona v. Fulminante | 40 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 14 |
| 116 | elementary rule | Bankers Mortgage Co. v. Dole | 39 | 2 | 1916–2021 | 2 |
| 117 | exclusion of other factors | State v. Fritz | 39 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 24 |
| 118 | multiplicity analysis | State v. Garnes | 39 | 2 | 1992–2025 | 3 |
| 119 | nonexclusive list factors | State v. Berriozabal | 38 | 2 | 1997–2026 | 6 |
| 120 | record to support claim | State v. Miller | 38 | 2 | 1994–2024 | 10 |
| 121 | speedy trial violation | Barker v. Wingo | 38 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 11 |
| 122 | conviction exception | Almendarez-Torres v. United States | 37 | 2 | 1928–2021 | 1 |
| 123 | plain error | State v. Sperry | 37 | 2 | 1889–2026 | 6 |
| 124 | specifications error | State v. Aeby | 37 | 1 | 1913–2008 | 0 |
| 125 | case falls within rule | Cox v. Kansas City Refining Co. | 36 | 2 | 1889–1990 | 0 |
| 126 | employment-at-will doctrine | Morriss v. Coleman Co. | 36 | 2 | 1985–2023 | 2 |
| 127 | exhaustion requirement | Jarvis v. Kansas Commission on Civil Rights | 36 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 3 |
| 128 | registration requirement | Apprendi v. New Jersey | 36 | 2 | 1996–2025 | 4 |
| 129 | standing challenge | Sierra Club v. Moser | 36 | 2 | 1964–2026 | 14 |
| 130 | illegal sentence claim | State v. Dickey | 35 | 2 | 1996–2026 | 23 |
| 131 | knowledge exception | Webb v. Lungstrum | 35 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 5 |
| 132 | remarks constitute plain error | State v. Pabst | 35 | 2 | 1999–2021 | 1 |
| 133 | merger doctrine | State v. Lucas | 34 | 2 | 1918–2026 | 5 |
| 134 | multiple acts instruction | State v. Voyles | 34 | 2 | 1999–2024 | 4 |
| 135 | addition of some instruction | State v. Moncla | 33 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 4 |
| 136 | automobile exception | State v. Sanchez-Loredo | 33 | 2 | 1982–2024 | 10 |
| 137 | fair presentation defense | State v. Ferguson | 33 | 2 | 1970–2025 | 12 |
| 138 | firmly rooted hearsay exception | Ohio v. Roberts | 33 | 2 | 1984–2008 | 0 |
| 139 | first step analysis | State v. Dupree | 33 | 2 | 1998–2026 | 7 |
| 140 | parental preference doctrine | In Re Guardianship of Williams | 33 | 2 | 1975–2024 | 3 |
| 141 | second prong test | State v. Fike | 33 | 2 | 1989–2024 | 1 |
| 142 | Alford plea | North Carolina v. Alford | 32 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 13 |
| 143 | combination factors | State v. Sharp | 32 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 5 |
| 144 | manifest injustice standard | White v. State | 32 | 2 | 1992–2026 | 11 |
| 145 | Allen instruction | Allen v. United States | 31 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 4 |
| 146 | burden to show both error | State v. Crosby | 31 | 2 | 2022–2026 | 31 |
| 147 | comments constitute plain error | State v. McReynolds | 31 | 2 | 2003–2022 | 1 |
| 148 | compliance doctrine | In Re Adoption of Trent | 31 | 2 | 1890–2025 | 1 |
| 149 | objection unless instruction | State v. Boone | 31 | 2 | 1984–2020 | 0 |
| 150 | clear and convincing standard | In the Interest of B.D.-Y. | 30 | 3 | 1983–2024 | 5 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.