The doctrines Maryland 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 | due process clause | In Re WINSHIP | 513 | 3 | 1930–2026 | 25 |
| 2 | abuse of discretion standard | North v. North | 498 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 69 |
| 3 | de novo standard | Walter v. Gunter | 389 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 99 |
| 4 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 327 | 2 | 1949–2026 | 26 |
| 5 | hearsay rule | Gordon v. State | 326 | 2 | 1927–2026 | 22 |
| 6 | fundamental principle | Barkley v. Sommers | 297 | 4 | 1884–2026 | 20 |
| 7 | Maryland rule | Bartell v. Bartell | 294 | 4 | 1912–2025 | 16 |
| 8 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 261 | 3 | 1967–2026 | 14 |
| 9 | affirmative defense | Robinson v. State | 260 | 2 | 1904–2026 | 25 |
| 10 | record of the suppression hearing | Trusty v. State | 237 | 2 | 1977–2026 | 18 |
| 11 | warrant requirement | Carroll v. United States | 221 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 25 |
| 12 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 212 | 3 | 1966–2026 | 10 |
| 13 | harmless error | Dorsey v. State | 212 | 2 | 1961–2026 | 31 |
| 14 | required evidence test | State v. Lancaster | 192 | 2 | 1976–2024 | 15 |
| 15 | reasonable doubt standard | Dorsey v. State | 171 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 14 |
| 16 | collateral order doctrine | Bunting v. State | 170 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 19 |
| 17 | double jeopardy clause | Benton v. Maryland | 169 | 3 | 1956–2026 | 4 |
| 18 | equal protection clause | Attorney General of Maryland v. Waldron | 167 | 3 | 1934–2024 | 9 |
| 19 | Fourth Amendment violation | Whren v. United States | 167 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 17 |
| 20 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 153 | 3 | 1977–2026 | 15 |
| 21 | per se rule | Strickland v. Washington | 149 | 3 | 1973–2026 | 20 |
| 22 | qualified privilege | James v. Prince George's County | 136 | 3 | 1901–2026 | 11 |
| 23 | plain meaning rule | Kaczorowski v. Mayor of Baltimore | 133 | 3 | 1907–2023 | 10 |
| 24 | res judicata doctrine | Colandrea v. Wilde Lake Community Ass'n | 133 | 2 | 1935–2025 | 6 |
| 25 | sovereign immunity | Katz v. Washington Suburban Sanitary Commission | 133 | 3 | 1967–2026 | 11 |
| 26 | plain error | State v. Hutchinson | 126 | 2 | 1880–2026 | 14 |
| 27 | prima facie presumption | Ross v. Pick | 123 | 3 | 1870–2026 | 6 |
| 28 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 103 | 2 | 1963–2026 | 5 |
| 29 | probable cause standard | Illinois v. Gates | 98 | 3 | 1973–2026 | 7 |
| 30 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Ashe v. Swenson | 97 | 2 | 1968–2025 | 8 |
| 31 | confrontation clause | Ohio v. Roberts | 93 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 10 |
| 32 | separation of powers doctrine | Department of Natural Resources v. Linchester Sand & Gravel Corp. | 93 | 3 | 1954–2026 | 8 |
| 33 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 90 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 10 |
| 34 | preponderance of the evidence standard | United States v. Arvizu | 87 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 12 |
| 35 | sanction violation | State v. Hicks | 86 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 3 |
| 36 | attorney-client privilege | Harrison v. State | 81 | 3 | 1968–2025 | 3 |
| 37 | Frye-Reed test | Reed v. State | 79 | 2 | 1983–2024 | 17 |
| 38 | rational basis test | Murphy v. Edmonds | 77 | 3 | 1973–2022 | 2 |
| 39 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 77 | 2 | 1975–2026 | 13 |
| 40 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Johnson v. Zerbst | 75 | 2 | 1966–2023 | 3 |
| 41 | motions hearing | Wengert v. State | 73 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 14 |
| 42 | laches doctrine | Ross v. State Board of Elections | 72 | 3 | 1897–2025 | 11 |
| 43 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Hickory Transfer Co. v. Nezbed | 72 | 2 | 1899–2018 | 0 |
| 44 | law of the case doctrine | Scott v. State | 70 | 2 | 1985–2025 | 9 |
| 45 | concluded defense | Weaver v. Massachusetts | 69 | 3 | 1958–2025 | 15 |
| 46 | corollary rule | Pressman v. State Tax Commission | 69 | 3 | 1928–2023 | 2 |
| 47 | demanding standard | Alabama v. White | 69 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 12 |
| 48 | generally accepted rule | Robinson v. State | 68 | 2 | 1915–2021 | 6 |
| 49 | third-party claim | Allen & Whalen, Inc. v. John C. Grimberg Co. | 68 | 2 | 1962–2023 | 3 |
| 50 | Alford plea | North Carolina v. Alford | 67 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 17 |
| 51 | member bar | Maryland State Bar Ass'n v. Agnew | 67 | 3 | 1926–2020 | 0 |
| 52 | purposes rule | Robinson v. State | 66 | 2 | 1932–2025 | 6 |
| 53 | felony-murder doctrine | Campbell v. State | 65 | 2 | 1970–2024 | 6 |
| 54 | findings hearing | Walker v. State | 65 | 2 | 1972–2020 | 0 |
| 55 | Sixth Amendment violation | Strickland v. Washington | 65 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 9 |
| 56 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 65 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 11 |
| 57 | clear and convincing standard | Attorney Grievance Commission v. Siskind | 63 | 2 | 1982–2023 | 5 |
| 58 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 61 | 2 | 1962–2022 | 3 |
| 59 | exhaustion requirement | Prince George's County v. Blumberg | 61 | 2 | 1980–2023 | 4 |
| 60 | legislative privilege | Montgomery County v. Schooley | 61 | 3 | 1959–2022 | 3 |
| 61 | parol evidence rule | Rinaudo v. Bloom | 61 | 2 | 1932–2025 | 2 |
| 62 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 60 | 2 | 1975–2025 | 15 |
| 63 | Frye standard | Reed v. State | 60 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 8 |
| 64 | merger doctrine | Dixon v. State | 60 | 2 | 1962–2026 | 4 |
| 65 | American rule | Friolo v. Frankel | 58 | 2 | 1906–2025 | 4 |
| 66 | medical malpractice claim | Carroll v. Konits | 58 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 5 |
| 67 | stare decisis doctrine | White v. King | 57 | 2 | 1966–2025 | 13 |
| 68 | supplemental instruction | Cruz v. State | 55 | 2 | 1932–2026 | 6 |
| 69 | automobile exception | Carroll v. United States | 54 | 3 | 1968–2026 | 9 |
| 70 | elementary principle | Kennedy v. Crouch | 54 | 2 | 1906–2022 | 3 |
| 71 | English rule | North Point Construction Co. v. Sagner | 54 | 3 | 1891–2016 | 0 |
| 72 | hard and fast rule | Schneider v. Hawkins | 54 | 2 | 1939–2022 | 1 |
| 73 | knowing and voluntary waiver | State v. Hall | 54 | 2 | 1965–2026 | 7 |
| 74 | judicially created rule | Md.-Nat'l Cap. P. & P. v. Wash. Nat'l Arena | 53 | 3 | 1962–2022 | 2 |
| 75 | speedy trial analysis | Barker v. Wingo | 53 | 2 | 1968–2025 | 3 |
| 76 | wrongful death claim | Mummert v. Alizadeh | 53 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 14 |
| 77 | advisory instruction | Bruce v. State | 52 | 2 | 1932–2016 | 0 |
| 78 | circumstances test | Strickland v. Washington | 52 | 2 | 1964–2025 | 7 |
| 79 | personal privilege | Williams v. State | 52 | 2 | 1870–2023 | 2 |
| 80 | respondeat superior doctrine | Southern Management Corp. v. Taha | 52 | 3 | 1934–2024 | 6 |
| 81 | equitable estoppel doctrine | Savonis v. Burke | 51 | 2 | 1917–2026 | 5 |
| 82 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 51 | 2 | 1985–2025 | 9 |
| 83 | integrity bar | Attorney Grievance Commission v. Sheridan | 51 | 3 | 1971–2025 | 1 |
| 84 | plain view doctrine | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 51 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 3 |
| 85 | agency rule | Miller v. Comptroller of Maryland | 50 | 3 | 1963–2022 | 1 |
| 86 | operation rule | Stanford v. District Title Insurance | 50 | 2 | 1873–2023 | 1 |
| 87 | witness claim | Vandegrift v. State | 50 | 2 | 1964–2020 | 0 |
| 88 | Carroll doctrine | Carroll v. United States | 49 | 3 | 1967–2026 | 6 |
| 89 | limitations defense | O'HARA v. Kovens | 49 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 6 |
| 90 | public policy exception | Md.-Nat'l Cap. P. & P. v. Wash. Nat'l Arena | 48 | 3 | 1968–2022 | 2 |
| 91 | residuary clause | Henderson v. Henderson | 48 | 3 | 1862–2025 | 2 |
| 92 | course hearing | Schwartz v. Merchants Mortgage Co. | 47 | 2 | 1940–2025 | 9 |
| 93 | last clear chance doctrine | Greenfeld v. Hook | 47 | 2 | 1921–2013 | 0 |
| 94 | voluntariness standard | Hof v. State | 47 | 2 | 1963–2025 | 4 |
| 95 | alibi defense | State v. Grady | 46 | 2 | 1974–2022 | 3 |
| 96 | Batson violation | Batson v. Kentucky | 46 | 2 | 1987–2024 | 2 |
| 97 | conditional privilege | Marchesi v. Franchino | 46 | 2 | 1957–2026 | 3 |
| 98 | pattern instruction | Green v. State | 46 | 2 | 1969–2025 | 7 |
| 99 | reasons rule | Brinsfield v. Howeth | 46 | 3 | 1897–2025 | 5 |
| 100 | estoppel doctrine | Croyle v. Croyle | 45 | 2 | 1907–2024 | 4 |
| 101 | factor test | Pittway Corp. v. Collins | 45 | 3 | 1985–2025 | 16 |
| 102 | application for a special exception | Rockville Fuel & Feed Co. v. Board of Appeals | 43 | 2 | 1966–2023 | 4 |
| 103 | law collateral order doctrine | Salvagno v. Frew | 43 | 2 | 2005–2025 | 3 |
| 104 | reasonable suspicion standard | Terry v. Ohio | 43 | 3 | 1974–2026 | 10 |
| 105 | scrutiny test | Attorney General of Maryland v. Waldron | 43 | 3 | 1974–2022 | 2 |
| 106 | urgency of establishing rule | Lloyd v. Board of Supervisors of Elections | 43 | 2 | 1961–2026 | 4 |
| 107 | contention claim | State v. Taylor | 42 | 2 | 1919–2022 | 1 |
| 108 | end analysis | Wade v. Hunter | 42 | 3 | 1965–2026 | 10 |
| 109 | home rule | McCrory Corp. v. Fowler | 42 | 3 | 1932–2025 | 4 |
| 110 | words rule | Johnson v. State | 42 | 2 | 1913–2025 | 5 |
| 111 | granting clause | Winter v. Gorsuch | 41 | 2 | 1869–2023 | 1 |
| 112 | implied waiver | Cunningham v. Baltimore Cnty. | 41 | 2 | 1941–2024 | 3 |
| 113 | lesser standard | Sellman v. State | 41 | 2 | 1975–2026 | 6 |
| 114 | plain language rule | New Jersey Ex Rel. Lennon v. Strazzella | 41 | 3 | 1982–2025 | 13 |
| 115 | preponderance standard | Santosky v. Kramer | 41 | 2 | 1964–2025 | 2 |
| 116 | probation revocation hearing | Gagnon v. Scarpelli | 41 | 2 | 1968–2025 | 3 |
| 117 | rigid rule | Wilson v. Arkansas | 41 | 2 | 1949–2023 | 2 |
| 118 | scientific test | Frye v. United States | 41 | 2 | 1977–2024 | 6 |
| 119 | began analysis | Estate of Pitcairn | 40 | 2 | 1985–2022 | 5 |
| 120 | boulevard rule | Creaser v. Owens | 40 | 2 | 1961–2014 | 0 |
| 121 | explained doctrine | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 40 | 2 | 1979–2025 | 7 |
| 122 | modern rule | Stewart v. State | 40 | 2 | 1964–2025 | 2 |
| 123 | mootness doctrine | Lloyd v. Board of Supervisors of Elections | 40 | 2 | 1976–2025 | 9 |
| 124 | pattern jury instruction | Yates v. State | 40 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 9 |
| 125 | case involving claim | Ford v. Bradford | 39 | 3 | 1902–2026 | 1 |
| 126 | contested case hearing | Sugarloaf Citizens Ass'n v. Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority | 39 | 3 | 1991–2021 | 1 |
| 127 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 39 | 2 | 1962–2024 | 4 |
| 128 | history rule | Long v. State | 39 | 3 | 1966–2023 | 3 |
| 129 | lie detector test | Guesfeird v. State | 39 | 2 | 1958–2025 | 1 |
| 130 | self-defense instruction | Dykes v. State | 39 | 3 | 1977–2026 | 8 |
| 131 | discussion standard | Jackson v. Virginia | 38 | 2 | 1939–2025 | 2 |
| 132 | exercise privilege | Younie v. State | 38 | 3 | 1954–2021 | 1 |
| 133 | extension doctrine | Maurice v. Worden | 38 | 3 | 1911–2018 | 0 |
| 134 | materiality standard | State v. Hutchinson | 38 | 2 | 1982–2025 | 6 |
| 135 | minimum standard | Faulcon v. State | 38 | 2 | 1955–2025 | 6 |
| 136 | faith and credit clause | Magnolia Petroleum Co. v. Hunt | 37 | 3 | 1915–2021 | 1 |
| 137 | individual claim | Espina v. Jackson | 37 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 6 |
| 138 | standing rule | People's Counsel v. Crown Development Corp. | 37 | 2 | 1970–2025 | 6 |
| 139 | substance of the requested instruction | Wegad v. Howard Street Jewelers, Inc. | 37 | 2 | 1992–2022 | 3 |
| 140 | firmly established rule | State Ex Rel. Minter v. Warden of Maryland House of Correction | 36 | 2 | 1911–2008 | 0 |
| 141 | parent-child immunity | Frye v. Frye | 36 | 2 | 1971–2025 | 6 |
| 142 | poisonous tree doctrine | Wong Sun v. United States | 36 | 3 | 1969–2025 | 1 |
| 143 | vagueness doctrine | Bowers v. State | 36 | 3 | 1976–2024 | 2 |
| 144 | ancient principle | Illinois Merchants Trust Co. v. Harvey | 35 | 4 | 1850–2021 | 2 |
| 145 | business judgment rule | Shenker v. Laureate Education, Inc. | 35 | 3 | 1964–2025 | 7 |
| 146 | custody analysis | Dedo v. State | 35 | 3 | 1970–2025 | 6 |
| 147 | Daubert factors | Rochkind v. Stevenson | 35 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 20 |
| 148 | disclosure requirement | Taliaferro v. State | 35 | 2 | 1949–2022 | 5 |
| 149 | handgun violation | State Ex Rel. Sonner v. Shearin | 35 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 1 |
| 150 | lien claim | Trustees of the German Lutheran Evangelical St. Matthew's Congregation v. Heise | 35 | 2 | 1911–2021 | 1 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.