The doctrines Kentucky 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 | abuse of discretion standard | Commonwealth v. English | 500 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 262 |
| 2 | palpable error | Martin v. Commonwealth | 496 | 3 | 1837–2026 | 239 |
| 3 | fundamental principle | Mathews v. Eldridge | 245 | 3 | 1860–2026 | 44 |
| 4 | de novo standard | Jackson v. Commonwealth | 229 | 3 | 1954–2026 | 130 |
| 5 | hearsay rule | Sanborn v. Commonwealth | 211 | 3 | 1904–2026 | 40 |
| 6 | due process clause | Brady v. Maryland | 205 | 3 | 1914–2026 | 35 |
| 7 | affirmative defense | Yeoman v. Com., Health Policy Bd. | 198 | 3 | 1928–2026 | 56 |
| 8 | double jeopardy clause | Blockburger v. United States | 145 | 3 | 1971–2026 | 32 |
| 9 | harmless error | Chapman v. California | 137 | 3 | 1933–2026 | 44 |
| 10 | sovereign immunity | Yanero v. Davis | 136 | 3 | 1935–2026 | 36 |
| 11 | warrant requirement | Maryland v. Buie | 133 | 3 | 1904–2026 | 47 |
| 12 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Baird v. Baird | 132 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 87 |
| 13 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 131 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 25 |
| 14 | separation of powers doctrine | Legislative Research Commission Ex Rel. Prather v. Brown | 109 | 3 | 1971–2026 | 30 |
| 15 | law of the case doctrine | Union Light, Heat & Power Co. v. Blackwell's Adm'r | 107 | 3 | 1929–2026 | 47 |
| 16 | equal protection clause | Commonwealth v. Howard | 104 | 3 | 1931–2025 | 20 |
| 17 | self-defense instruction | Fitch v. Commonwealth | 94 | 3 | 1913–2025 | 5 |
| 18 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 93 | 3 | 1965–2026 | 26 |
| 19 | of review standard | Scifres v. Kraft | 90 | 1 | 2004–2026 | 64 |
| 20 | cumulative error | Brown v. Commonwealth | 89 | 2 | 2012–2026 | 81 |
| 21 | Kentucky rule | Curtis Green & Clay Green, Inc. v. Clark | 86 | 3 | 1886–2026 | 23 |
| 22 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Cox v. Wilson | 83 | 3 | 1912–2026 | 5 |
| 23 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 83 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 56 |
| 24 | Daubert hearing | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 81 | 2 | 1995–2026 | 23 |
| 25 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 76 | 3 | 1922–2026 | 12 |
| 26 | form instruction | Commonwealth v. Stone | 73 | 3 | 1922–2025 | 16 |
| 27 | last clear chance doctrine | Severance v. Sohan | 72 | 2 | 1929–1985 | 0 |
| 28 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 67 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 19 |
| 29 | qualified privilege | Yanero v. Davis | 67 | 3 | 1913–2025 | 22 |
| 30 | Batson challenge | Washington v. Com. | 66 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 19 |
| 31 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 66 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 11 |
| 32 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 66 | 2 | 1986–2026 | 41 |
| 33 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 64 | 2 | 1970–2026 | 15 |
| 34 | elementary rule | Merrick v. Smith | 63 | 3 | 1891–2026 | 5 |
| 35 | attorney-client privilege | Upjohn Co. v. United States | 55 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 16 |
| 36 | Fourth Amendment violation | Whren v. United States | 55 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 17 |
| 37 | offered instruction | Martin v. Commonwealth | 55 | 3 | 1914–2026 | 5 |
| 38 | Alford plea | North Carolina v. Alford | 53 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 29 |
| 39 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 53 | 2 | 1984–2025 | 10 |
| 40 | compliance doctrine | Ford v. Ford | 52 | 3 | 1921–2026 | 16 |
| 41 | res judicata doctrine | Yeoman v. Com., Health Policy Bd. | 52 | 3 | 1902–2026 | 9 |
| 42 | non-constitutional evidentiary error | Winstead v. Commonwealth | 51 | 2 | 2009–2025 | 16 |
| 43 | prima facie presumption | Duren v. Missouri | 51 | 3 | 1878–2025 | 13 |
| 44 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 50 | 3 | 1927–2025 | 19 |
| 45 | rational basis test | Commonwealth v. Howard | 50 | 2 | 1992–2026 | 15 |
| 46 | mootness doctrine | Morgan v. Getter | 48 | 2 | 1983–2026 | 17 |
| 47 | Brady violation | Commonwealth v. Bussell | 47 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 20 |
| 48 | lesser included offense instruction | Houston v. Commonwealth | 47 | 2 | 1993–2025 | 17 |
| 49 | scintilla rule | Nugent v. Nugent's Ex'r | 47 | 2 | 1909–1974 | 0 |
| 50 | case falls within rule | Farmers' National Bank v. Board of Supervisors | 46 | 3 | 1911–2012 | 0 |
| 51 | invited error | Quisenberry v. Commonwealth | 46 | 3 | 1937–2026 | 25 |
| 52 | generally accepted rule | University of Louisville v. RAM Engineering & Construction, Inc. | 45 | 3 | 1907–2018 | 0 |
| 53 | prejudicial error | Shell v. Commonwealth | 45 | 3 | 1912–2022 | 2 |
| 54 | structural error | Commonwealth v. Douglas | 45 | 2 | 2005–2026 | 17 |
| 55 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 44 | 3 | 1968–2025 | 11 |
| 56 | known rule | Yanero v. Davis | 44 | 3 | 1912–2024 | 8 |
| 57 | bad faith claim | Wittmer v. Jones | 43 | 2 | 1992–2026 | 21 |
| 58 | ancient doctrine | Ewering v. Ewering | 41 | 3 | 1909–2022 | 1 |
| 59 | motion for a peremptory instruction | Mullins v. Commonwealth | 41 | 3 | 1911–2025 | 1 |
| 60 | directed verdict standard | Commonwealth v. Benham | 40 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 15 |
| 61 | falsity defense | Slaughter v. Commonwealth | 40 | 2 | 1982–2025 | 15 |
| 62 | Faretta hearing | Faretta v. California | 40 | 2 | 2004–2026 | 12 |
| 63 | case of an unpreserved error | Oakley v. Oakley | 39 | 1 | 2018–2025 | 29 |
| 64 | bench bar | Misher v. Commonwealth | 38 | 3 | 1876–2026 | 10 |
| 65 | granting clause | Hall v. Wright | 38 | 3 | 1888–2024 | 3 |
| 66 | missing evidence instruction | University Medical Center, Inc. v. Beglin | 37 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 14 |
| 67 | EED instruction | McClellan v. Commonwealth | 36 | 2 | 1998–2026 | 13 |
| 68 | modern rule | Yome v. Gorman | 36 | 3 | 1857–2025 | 3 |
| 69 | probable cause standard | Illinois v. Gates | 36 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 19 |
| 70 | wrongful death claim | Ping v. Beverly Enterprises, Inc. | 36 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 20 |
| 71 | contributory negligence instruction | Nowak v. Joseph | 35 | 3 | 1925–2022 | 2 |
| 72 | estoppel doctrine | Forbes v. City of Ashland | 35 | 3 | 1876–2024 | 2 |
| 73 | proceeding must disregard any error | Winstead v. Commonwealth | 35 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 14 |
| 74 | sound rule | Ellison v. Commonwealth | 35 | 3 | 1865–2023 | 1 |
| 75 | adjudication claim | Martin v. O'Daniel | 34 | 2 | 1964–2026 | 17 |
| 76 | Anders brief | A.C. v. Cabinet for Health & Family Services | 34 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 30 |
| 77 | stare decisis doctrine | D & W AUTO SUPPLY v. Department of Revenue | 34 | 3 | 1913–2025 | 6 |
| 78 | adverse claim | Appalachian Regional Healthcare, Inc. v. Royal Crown Bottling Co. | 33 | 3 | 1817–2025 | 8 |
| 79 | Appellees motion | Scifres v. Kraft | 33 | 3 | 1823–2026 | 16 |
| 80 | ease bar | Ferguson v. Bell's Administrator | 33 | 3 | 1899–2007 | 0 |
| 81 | insanity defense | Jacobs v. Commonwealth | 33 | 3 | 1910–2026 | 3 |
| 82 | order denying a substantial claim | Breathitt County Board of Education v. Prater | 33 | 2 | 2011–2025 | 16 |
| 83 | self-protection defense | Ordway v. Commonwealth | 33 | 2 | 1983–2026 | 16 |
| 84 | uniform rule | Carpenter v. Hazelrigg | 33 | 3 | 1895–2024 | 2 |
| 85 | burden-shifting test | McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green | 32 | 2 | 2005–2026 | 20 |
| 86 | manslaughter instruction | Davenport v. Commonwealth | 31 | 3 | 1919–2025 | 1 |
| 87 | person injured violation | State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co. v. Reeder | 31 | 3 | 1933–2026 | 6 |
| 88 | reasonable expectations doctrine | Simon v. Continental Insurance Co. | 31 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 7 |
| 89 | severity violation | Commonwealth v. Andrews | 31 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 19 |
| 90 | fixed rule | Coleman, Auditor v. Hurst | 30 | 3 | 1885–2026 | 1 |
| 91 | given instruction | Fields Ex Rel. Fields v. Rutledge | 30 | 3 | 1912–2025 | 6 |
| 92 | personal injury claim | Ping v. Beverly Enterprises, Inc. | 30 | 3 | 1912–2025 | 7 |
| 93 | Tbe rule | Anderson v. Nystrom | 30 | 2 | 1876–1945 | 0 |
| 94 | totality of the circumstances analysis | Illinois v. Gates | 30 | 2 | 1999–2026 | 11 |
| 95 | unanimity requirement | Wells v. Commonwealth | 30 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 19 |
| 96 | approved instruction | Florida v. Royer | 29 | 3 | 1899–2023 | 1 |
| 97 | detailed analysis | Collins v. Braden | 29 | 3 | 1931–2025 | 7 |
| 98 | ex post facto clause | California Department of Corrections v. Morales | 29 | 2 | 1983–2024 | 3 |
| 99 | laches doctrine | Greer v. Arroz | 29 | 3 | 1926–2026 | 10 |
| 100 | party claiming privilege | Collins v. Braden | 29 | 2 | 2004–2026 | 11 |
| 101 | presence hearing | Thacker v. Commonwealth | 29 | 3 | 1917–2025 | 5 |
| 102 | soundness rule | Hall v. Scott's Adm'r | 29 | 2 | 1843–1979 | 0 |
| 103 | voluntary manslaughter instruction | Richards v. Commonwealth | 29 | 3 | 1934–2011 | 0 |
| 104 | admonition thus cures any error | Johnson v. Commonwealth | 28 | 2 | 2003–2026 | 12 |
| 105 | consideration factors | Osborne v. Johnson | 28 | 3 | 1858–2026 | 12 |
| 106 | English rule | Commonwealth Ex Rel. Ferguson v. Gardner | 28 | 3 | 1868–2025 | 1 |
| 107 | first prong test | Duncan v. Commonwealth | 28 | 2 | 1993–2026 | 9 |
| 108 | plain view doctrine | Horton v. California | 28 | 2 | 1972–2025 | 9 |
| 109 | probation revocation hearing | Commonwealth v. Andrews | 28 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 17 |
| 110 | proponent instruction | Allen v. Commonwealth | 28 | 1 | 2002–2025 | 11 |
| 111 | public interest exception | Morgan v. Getter | 28 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 18 |
| 112 | voluntary intoxication instruction | Rogers v. Commonwealth | 28 | 2 | 1993–2025 | 13 |
| 113 | concrete instruction | Evitts v. Commonwealth | 27 | 3 | 1923–2006 | 0 |
| 114 | difficult standard | Padilla v. Kentucky | 27 | 2 | 2006–2025 | 21 |
| 115 | generally recognized rule | Commonwealth v. Trousdale | 27 | 3 | 1922–2023 | 2 |
| 116 | respondeat superior doctrine | Patterson v. Blair | 27 | 3 | 1928–2025 | 5 |
| 117 | circumstances bar | Gas Service Co., Inc. v. City of London | 26 | 3 | 1916–2023 | 3 |
| 118 | factor analysis | Deutsch v. Shein | 26 | 3 | 1965–2024 | 4 |
| 119 | firmly established rule | Massie v. Persson | 26 | 3 | 1927–2023 | 4 |
| 120 | foundation doctrine | Morgan v. Home Insurance Company | 26 | 3 | 1880–2014 | 0 |
| 121 | corollary rule | Woodson v. Manhattan Life Insurance Co. of New York | 25 | 3 | 1922–2024 | 4 |
| 122 | defamation claim | Toler v. Süd-Chemie, Inc. | 25 | 2 | 2005–2025 | 14 |
| 123 | gross deviation standard | Brown v. Commonwealth | 25 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 7 |
| 124 | official immunity | Yanero v. Davis | 25 | 2 | 1989–2025 | 11 |
| 125 | unanimous verdict violation | Johnson v. Commonwealth | 25 | 2 | 1984–2024 | 11 |
| 126 | attractive nuisance doctrine | Lyttle v. Harlan Town Coal Co. | 24 | 3 | 1918–2024 | 1 |
| 127 | crux inquiry | Special Fund v. Francis | 24 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 14 |
| 128 | error instruction | Pope-Cawood Lumber & Supply Co. v. Cleet | 24 | 3 | 1883–2023 | 1 |
| 129 | gave instruction | Dixon v. Stringer | 24 | 3 | 1912–2016 | 0 |
| 130 | indictment instruction | Walker v. Commonwealth | 24 | 3 | 1890–2015 | 0 |
| 131 | inherently factual inquiry | Bronk v. Commonwealth | 24 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 17 |
| 132 | residuary clause | Chrisman v. Allman | 24 | 2 | 1904–2011 | 0 |
| 133 | Sixth Amendment violation | Commonwealth v. Tigue | 24 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 5 |
| 134 | statute of limitations defense | City of Frankfort v. Rogers | 24 | 3 | 1917–2026 | 11 |
| 135 | tendered instruction | Sand Hill Energy, Inc. v. Smith | 24 | 3 | 1919–2026 | 6 |
| 136 | waiver of sovereign immunity | Withers v. University of Kentucky | 24 | 2 | 1989–2025 | 8 |
| 137 | apportionment instruction | Floyd v. Carlisle Const. Co., Inc. | 23 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 3 |
| 138 | automobile exception | Dunn v. Commonwealth | 23 | 3 | 1969–2026 | 14 |
| 139 | Barker test | Barker v. Wingo | 23 | 2 | 1978–2024 | 5 |
| 140 | Bell test | Bell v. Commonwealth | 23 | 2 | 1840–2026 | 16 |
| 141 | contention error | Bowles v. Commonwealth | 23 | 3 | 1917–2022 | 1 |
| 142 | give instruction | Zerban v. Eidmann | 23 | 2 | 1914–1987 | 0 |
| 143 | habendum clause | Baskett v. Sellars | 23 | 3 | 1895–2023 | 1 |
| 144 | hostile claim | Ely v. Fuson | 23 | 3 | 1914–2025 | 4 |
| 145 | immunity doctrine | Ginter v. Montgomery County | 23 | 3 | 1916–2026 | 5 |
| 146 | policy rule | Superior Steel, Inc. v. Ascent at Roebling's Bridge, LLC | 23 | 3 | 1903–2025 | 4 |
| 147 | specificity standard | Roach v. Commonwealth | 23 | 2 | 1998–2026 | 15 |
| 148 | unliquidated claim | Fidelity & Casualty Co. of New York v. Downey | 23 | 3 | 1896–2025 | 2 |
| 149 | emergency clause | McIntyre v. Commonwealth | 22 | 3 | 1913–2024 | 1 |
| 150 | extension rule | Rawlings v. Clay Motor Co. | 22 | 3 | 1907–2025 | 4 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.