The doctrines Massachusetts 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 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 650 | 4 | 1968–2026 | 48 |
| 2 | due process clause | Pinnick v. Cleary | 628 | 6 | 1916–2026 | 43 |
| 3 | hearsay rule | Bouchie v. Murray | 462 | 5 | 1936–2026 | 29 |
| 4 | affirmative defense | Commonwealth v. Cabral | 305 | 5 | 1913–2026 | 39 |
| 5 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Calandra | 282 | 4 | 1958–2026 | 26 |
| 6 | fundamental principle | Commonwealth v. McDuffee | 280 | 4 | 1855–2026 | 16 |
| 7 | probable cause hearing | Myers v. Commonwealth | 271 | 3 | 1967–2026 | 13 |
| 8 | abuse of discretion standard | L.L., a juvenile v. Commonwealth | 266 | 4 | 1974–2026 | 65 |
| 9 | warrant requirement | Commonwealth v. Forde | 262 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 28 |
| 10 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 232 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 20 |
| 11 | double jeopardy clause | Benton v. Maryland | 225 | 3 | 1970–2026 | 18 |
| 12 | equal protection clause | Commonwealth v. Soares | 225 | 4 | 1927–2026 | 8 |
| 13 | Massachusetts rule | Commonwealth v. Saferian | 171 | 5 | 1887–2026 | 8 |
| 14 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 158 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 10 |
| 15 | miscarriage of justice standard | Commonwealth v. Freeman | 156 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 20 |
| 16 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Commonwealth v. Saferian | 146 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 44 |
| 17 | attorney-client privilege | In the Matter of a John Doe Grand Jury Investigation | 138 | 4 | 1973–2025 | 6 |
| 18 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Commonwealth v. Martin | 136 | 4 | 1969–2026 | 9 |
| 19 | judge made a clear error | L.L., a juvenile v. Commonwealth | 123 | 3 | 2015–2026 | 97 |
| 20 | Aguilar-Spinelli test | Commonwealth v. Upton | 119 | 3 | 1985–2025 | 19 |
| 21 | Latimore standard | Commonwealth v. Latimore | 116 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 40 |
| 22 | ineffective assistance claim | Commonwealth v. Zinser | 115 | 3 | 1981–2026 | 41 |
| 23 | Saferian test | Commonwealth v. Saferian | 106 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 32 |
| 24 | qualified immunity | Harlow v. Fitzgerald | 103 | 4 | 1952–2025 | 8 |
| 25 | essential element claim | Kourouvacilis v. General Motors Corp. | 97 | 4 | 1984–2026 | 14 |
| 26 | per se rule | Commonwealth v. Kennedy | 96 | 4 | 1977–2025 | 5 |
| 27 | prejudicial error | Commonwealth v. Flebotte | 94 | 4 | 1961–2026 | 13 |
| 28 | first complaint doctrine | Commonwealth v. King | 93 | 2 | 2005–2026 | 32 |
| 29 | factual basis claim | Commonwealth v. Adamides | 92 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 31 |
| 30 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 89 | 3 | 1980–2025 | 4 |
| 31 | self-defense instruction | Commonwealth v. Pike | 88 | 2 | 1982–2026 | 19 |
| 32 | sovereign immunity | Morash & Sons, Inc. v. Commonwealth | 88 | 4 | 1967–2025 | 10 |
| 33 | Bowden defense | Commonwealth v. Bowden | 87 | 3 | 1993–2026 | 26 |
| 34 | voir dire hearing | Commonwealth v. Silva-Santiago | 87 | 3 | 1963–2025 | 4 |
| 35 | execution doctrine | Fabre v. Walton | 86 | 4 | 1982–2026 | 25 |
| 36 | public policy exception | King v. Driscoll | 86 | 4 | 1982–2026 | 6 |
| 37 | absence of clear error | Commonwealth v. Correia | 85 | 3 | 1979–2025 | 5 |
| 38 | felony-murder rule | Commonwealth v. Matchett | 85 | 3 | 1965–2024 | 5 |
| 39 | Fourth Amendment violation | Katz v. United States | 82 | 3 | 1964–2023 | 2 |
| 40 | basis of knowledge test | Commonwealth v. Upton | 81 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 9 |
| 41 | res judicata doctrine | Heacock v. Heacock | 80 | 4 | 1914–2025 | 4 |
| 42 | guiding principle | Kelley v. Rossi | 79 | 5 | 1930–2024 | 4 |
| 43 | harmless error | Chapman v. California | 78 | 4 | 1912–2025 | 7 |
| 44 | manslaughter instruction | Commonwealth v. Walden | 78 | 3 | 1978–2025 | 3 |
| 45 | plain view doctrine | Commonwealth v. Santana | 76 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 4 |
| 46 | premise defense | Commonwealth v. Mahdi | 76 | 4 | 1983–2026 | 10 |
| 47 | recitation of Miranda warning | Commonwealth v. Mandile | 76 | 3 | 1986–2025 | 9 |
| 48 | unanimity instruction | Commonwealth v. Conefrey | 75 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 15 |
| 49 | parol evidence rule | Kobayashi v. Orion Ventures, Inc. | 74 | 5 | 1923–2026 | 8 |
| 50 | veracity test | Commonwealth v. Upton | 74 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 7 |
| 51 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Miranda v. Arizona | 73 | 5 | 1972–2025 | 1 |
| 52 | plausible claim | Harvard Square Defense Fund, Inc. v. Planning Board | 73 | 5 | 1984–2026 | 18 |
| 53 | automobile exception | Commonwealth v. Motta | 71 | 4 | 1934–2026 | 9 |
| 54 | conditional privilege | Bratt v. International Business MacHines Corp. | 71 | 4 | 1938–2025 | 3 |
| 55 | commerce clause | Complete Auto Transit, Inc. v. Brady | 70 | 4 | 1912–2022 | 1 |
| 56 | missing witness instruction | Commonwealth v. Saletino | 69 | 3 | 1986–2026 | 10 |
| 57 | insanity defense | Commonwealth v. McHoul | 68 | 3 | 1975–2024 | 1 |
| 58 | model instruction | Commonwealth v. Rodriguez | 67 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 14 |
| 59 | presentment requirement | Lodge v. District Attorney for the Suffolk District | 66 | 4 | 1982–2025 | 4 |
| 60 | purposes rule | Commonwealth v. Macias | 66 | 5 | 1819–2026 | 9 |
| 61 | discretionary function exception | Harry Stoller & Co. v. City of Lowell | 65 | 3 | 1983–2025 | 3 |
| 62 | discrimination claim | Green v. Wyman-Gordon Co. | 64 | 4 | 1984–2026 | 7 |
| 63 | forum selection clause | Jacobson v. Mailboxes Etc. U.S.A., Inc. | 64 | 4 | 1984–2026 | 3 |
| 64 | police inquiry | Commonwealth v. Carrion | 64 | 3 | 1974–2024 | 3 |
| 65 | extension hearing | Iamele v. Asselin | 63 | 4 | 1936–2026 | 23 |
| 66 | merger doctrine | Sound Techniques, Inc. v. Hoffman | 63 | 4 | 1921–2026 | 5 |
| 67 | definite violation | Harvard Square Defense Fund, Inc. v. Planning Board | 62 | 5 | 1950–2026 | 13 |
| 68 | fresh complaint doctrine | Commonwealth v. Licata | 62 | 2 | 1971–2017 | 0 |
| 69 | continuing violation | Cuddyer v. Stop & Shop Supermarket Co. | 60 | 4 | 1971–2025 | 4 |
| 70 | rational basis test | Marshfield Family Skateland, Inc. v. Town of Marshfield | 59 | 3 | 1977–2025 | 3 |
| 71 | reasonable suspicion analysis | Commonwealth v. Meneus | 59 | 3 | 1990–2026 | 27 |
| 72 | witness hearing | Commonwealth v. Martin | 59 | 4 | 1853–2024 | 2 |
| 73 | supplemental instruction | Commonwealth v. Freeman | 58 | 3 | 1976–2026 | 7 |
| 74 | Cunneen factors | Commonwealth v. Cunneen | 57 | 2 | 1996–2023 | 2 |
| 75 | First Amendment challenge | Massachusetts v. Oakes | 57 | 3 | 1969–2025 | 6 |
| 76 | probation revocation hearing | Commonwealth v. Durling | 57 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 13 |
| 77 | motion to dismiss rule | Iannacchino v. Ford Motor Co. | 56 | 4 | 1977–2026 | 13 |
| 78 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Martin v. Ring | 55 | 4 | 1980–2016 | 0 |
| 79 | consciousness of guilt instruction | Commonwealth v. Toney | 55 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 9 |
| 80 | defendant argues instruction | Commonwealth v. Saferian | 55 | 2 | 1957–2026 | 6 |
| 81 | discussion defendant | Kourouvacilis v. General Motors Corp. | 55 | 4 | 1874–2024 | 1 |
| 82 | favorable standard | Commonwealth v. MacKenzie | 55 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 8 |
| 83 | malice standard | Weber v. Community Teamwork, Inc. | 55 | 3 | 1971–2025 | 4 |
| 84 | residuary clause | Stone v. Forbes | 55 | 3 | 1827–2023 | 1 |
| 85 | structural error | Arizona v. Fulminante | 55 | 4 | 1995–2025 | 9 |
| 86 | defamation claim | Reilly v. Associated Press | 54 | 4 | 1980–2026 | 8 |
| 87 | work product doctrine | Ward v. Peabody | 54 | 3 | 1980–2025 | 5 |
| 88 | directed verdict standard | Little v. Rosenthal | 53 | 4 | 1959–2026 | 4 |
| 89 | Franks hearing | Franks v. Delaware | 53 | 3 | 1983–2025 | 11 |
| 90 | issue preclusion doctrine | Heacock v. Heacock | 53 | 5 | 1983–2025 | 8 |
| 91 | economic loss doctrine | FMR Corp. v. Boston Edison Co. | 52 | 4 | 1993–2024 | 2 |
| 92 | exhaustion requirement | Vokey v. Massachusetts Insurers Insolvency Fund | 52 | 4 | 1976–2026 | 2 |
| 93 | significance error | Commonwealth v. Azar | 52 | 2 | 1924–2025 | 11 |
| 94 | abuse of process claim | Quaranto v. Silverman | 51 | 4 | 1986–2026 | 9 |
| 95 | Lanigan hearing | Canavan's Case | 51 | 3 | 1998–2023 | 2 |
| 96 | refusal instruction | Commonwealth v. Campbell | 51 | 3 | 1870–2025 | 1 |
| 97 | humane practice instruction | Commonwealth v. Tavares | 50 | 3 | 1994–2025 | 10 |
| 98 | ruling error | Commonwealth v. Lampron | 50 | 4 | 1894–2026 | 4 |
| 99 | American rule | Waldman v. American Honda Motor Co. | 49 | 5 | 1854–2026 | 4 |
| 100 | circumstances test | Commonwealth v. Lyons | 49 | 3 | 1917–2020 | 0 |
| 101 | good faith exception | Hartford Casualty Insurance v. New Hampshire Insurance | 49 | 5 | 1975–2025 | 3 |
| 102 | elementary rule | Rocci v. Massachusetts Accident Co. | 48 | 5 | 1880–2025 | 3 |
| 103 | camera hearing | Commonwealth v. Martin | 47 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 2 |
| 104 | combination factors | Commonwealth v. Fraser | 47 | 4 | 1933–2025 | 3 |
| 105 | defendant makes claim | Commonwealth v. Williams | 47 | 4 | 1914–2026 | 5 |
| 106 | estoppel doctrine | Commonwealth v. Lopez | 47 | 4 | 1889–2025 | 3 |
| 107 | exercise privilege | Commonwealth v. Maldonado | 47 | 2 | 1881–2026 | 5 |
| 108 | judge committed reversible error | Commonwealth v. Gil | 47 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 5 |
| 109 | Bruton rule | Bruton v. United States | 46 | 3 | 1969–2019 | 0 |
| 110 | Sixth Amendment violation | Doggett v. United States | 46 | 3 | 1974–2025 | 6 |
| 111 | statute of limitations defense | Patrick Catrone v. Thoroughbred Racing Associations of North America, Inc. | 46 | 4 | 1931–2026 | 5 |
| 112 | case falls within principle | Edward William Rapp v. The United States. Ward Roland Hawkins v. The United States | 45 | 4 | 1853–2015 | 0 |
| 113 | indemnity clause | Harnois v. QUANNAPOWITT DEVELOPMENT, INC. | 45 | 4 | 1976–2014 | 0 |
| 114 | invocation claim | Kobrin v. Board of Registration in Medicine | 44 | 5 | 1929–2026 | 12 |
| 115 | prima facie violation | Cepeda v. Kass | 44 | 4 | 1860–2025 | 4 |
| 116 | respondeat superior doctrine | Kelley v. Rossi | 44 | 4 | 1920–2024 | 2 |
| 117 | vagueness doctrine | Smith v. Goguen | 44 | 4 | 1958–2026 | 2 |
| 118 | voluntary manslaughter instruction | Commonwealth v. Walden | 44 | 3 | 1983–2024 | 2 |
| 119 | corroboration rule | Commonwealth v. Forde | 43 | 3 | 1984–2025 | 6 |
| 120 | involuntary manslaughter instruction | Commonwealth v. Tavares | 43 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 9 |
| 121 | motion to suppress hearing | Commonwealth v. Kennedy | 43 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 13 |
| 122 | reasons rule | Commonwealth v. Calderon | 43 | 4 | 1875–2025 | 3 |
| 123 | Daubert-Lanigan hearing | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 42 | 3 | 2001–2025 | 15 |
| 124 | inevitable discovery doctrine | Commonwealth v. O'CONNOR | 42 | 3 | 1985–2025 | 5 |
| 125 | particularity requirement | Commonwealth v. Valerio | 42 | 3 | 1976–2026 | 7 |
| 126 | sound principle | Lolos v. Berlin | 42 | 4 | 1892–2026 | 13 |
| 127 | third-party doctrine | Kirkland Construction Co. v. James | 42 | 5 | 1972–2026 | 5 |
| 128 | alibi defense | Commonwealth v. McLeod | 41 | 3 | 1970–2023 | 3 |
| 129 | first prong test | Commonwealth v. Scott | 41 | 4 | 1982–2023 | 2 |
| 130 | omission instruction | Commonwealth v. Azar | 41 | 4 | 1825–2026 | 5 |
| 131 | reliability test | Manson v. Brathwaite | 41 | 3 | 1975–2023 | 4 |
| 132 | retaliation claim | Mole v. University of Massachusetts | 41 | 4 | 1996–2026 | 9 |
| 133 | joint venture exception | Commonwealth v. Zanetti | 39 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 1 |
| 134 | knowledge standard | Demoulas v. Demoulas Super Markets, Inc. | 39 | 4 | 1939–2026 | 3 |
| 135 | lesser included offense instruction | Commonwealth v. Thayer | 39 | 2 | 1984–2025 | 7 |
| 136 | member bar | DiLuzio v. UNITED ELECTRICAL, RADIO & MACHINE WKRS. | 39 | 5 | 1908–2025 | 2 |
| 137 | burden-shifting framework | Duracraft Corp. v. Holmes Products Corp. | 38 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 9 |
| 138 | defendant asserts error | Commonwealth v. Bowden | 38 | 3 | 1988–2026 | 5 |
| 139 | imprecise but comprehensible normative standard | Commonwealth v. Orlando | 38 | 3 | 1977–2025 | 3 |
| 140 | crucial factors | Massachusetts Employers Insurance Exchange v. Propac-Mass, Inc. | 37 | 4 | 1975–2025 | 3 |
| 141 | de novo hearing | MacGibbon v. Board of Appeals of Duxbury | 37 | 4 | 1976–2026 | 12 |
| 142 | indemnification clause | Harnois v. QUANNAPOWITT DEVELOPMENT, INC. | 37 | 3 | 1976–2026 | 3 |
| 143 | knowing waiver | Commonwealth v. Benoit | 37 | 4 | 1975–2024 | 1 |
| 144 | legal malpractice claim | Williams v. Ely | 37 | 4 | 1988–2026 | 10 |
| 145 | liquidated damages clause | Kelly v. Marx | 37 | 4 | 1959–2026 | 4 |
| 146 | paroi evidence rule | Mears v. Smith | 37 | 3 | 1925–2014 | 0 |
| 147 | simple instruction | Commonwealth v. Sires | 37 | 3 | 1900–2026 | 2 |
| 148 | state of mind exception | Commonwealth v. Borodine | 37 | 3 | 1982–2025 | 3 |
| 149 | voluntariness waiver | Commonwealth v. Edwards | 37 | 3 | 1976–2026 | 5 |
| 150 | voluntary waiver | Commonwealth v. Tavares | 37 | 3 | 1917–2025 | 1 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.