The doctrines Montana 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 | plain error | State v. Finley | 261 | 1 | 1927–2026 | 71 |
| 2 | due process clause | State v. Baldwin | 254 | 1 | 1931–2026 | 16 |
| 3 | affirmative defense | Patterson v. New York | 212 | 1 | 1897–2026 | 14 |
| 4 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 192 | 1 | 1986–2026 | 31 |
| 5 | fundamental principle | Formicove, Inc. v. Burlington Northern, Inc. | 166 | 1 | 1891–2026 | 15 |
| 6 | abuse of discretion standard | Montana Rail Link v. Byard | 132 | 1 | 1983–2026 | 11 |
| 7 | warrant requirement | Terry v. Ohio | 128 | 1 | 1973–2025 | 13 |
| 8 | equal protection clause | In re S.L.M. | 126 | 1 | 1925–2026 | 11 |
| 9 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 120 | 1 | 1991–2026 | 17 |
| 10 | speedy trial claim | State v. Ariegwe | 116 | 1 | 1978–2026 | 23 |
| 11 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 114 | 1 | 1976–2025 | 6 |
| 12 | hearsay rule | State v. J.C.E. | 102 | 1 | 1929–2025 | 10 |
| 13 | exclusionary rule | Mapp v. Ohio | 95 | 1 | 1949–2024 | 9 |
| 14 | burden of establishing error | In re M.J.W. | 83 | 1 | 1998–2025 | 7 |
| 15 | res judicata doctrine | Brault v. Smith | 78 | 1 | 1948–2026 | 7 |
| 16 | law plain error | State v. Finley | 72 | 1 | 1996–2026 | 17 |
| 17 | harmless error | State v. Van Kirk | 63 | 1 | 1978–2026 | 9 |
| 18 | double jeopardy clause | State v. Guillaume | 62 | 1 | 1977–2025 | 5 |
| 19 | Montana rule | State v. Buckley | 62 | 1 | 1947–2016 | 0 |
| 20 | law of the case doctrine | Scott v. Scott | 61 | 1 | 1972–2026 | 4 |
| 21 | offered instruction | Payne v. Sorenson | 60 | 1 | 1912–2025 | 1 |
| 22 | per se rule | Fitzpatrick v. Crist | 56 | 1 | 1976–2026 | 4 |
| 23 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 55 | 1 | 1995–2026 | 8 |
| 24 | cumulative error | State v. W. Cunningham | 55 | 1 | 1976–2026 | 18 |
| 25 | IAC claim | Strickland v. Washington | 52 | 1 | 2008–2026 | 27 |
| 26 | implied findings doctrine | Interstate Brands Corp. v. Cannon | 50 | 1 | 1900–2024 | 5 |
| 27 | Lenihan exception | State v. Lenihan | 50 | 1 | 2002–2026 | 13 |
| 28 | mining claim | Garfield M. & M. Co. v. Hammer | 50 | 1 | 1878–2017 | 0 |
| 29 | omnibus hearing | State v. Greywater | 50 | 1 | 1980–2026 | 8 |
| 30 | probable cause standard | State v. Burke | 50 | 1 | 1973–2025 | 3 |
| 31 | parol evidence rule | Sherrodd, Inc. v. Morrison-Knudsen Co. | 48 | 1 | 1920–2019 | 0 |
| 32 | just rule | State v. Matt | 47 | 1 | 1888–2026 | 2 |
| 33 | lesser included offense instruction | State v. Castle | 47 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 5 |
| 34 | rational basis test | Montana Stockgrowers Ass'n v. State, Department of Revenue | 44 | 1 | 1981–2024 | 2 |
| 35 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 43 | 1 | 1984–2024 | 1 |
| 36 | elementary rule | Jackson v. William Dingwall Company | 42 | 1 | 1893–2017 | 0 |
| 37 | Fourth Amendment violation | State v. Bullock | 42 | 1 | 1974–2024 | 4 |
| 38 | ineffective assistance claim | Strickland v. Washington | 42 | 1 | 1996–2026 | 3 |
| 39 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 41 | 1 | 1964–2018 | 0 |
| 40 | structural error | State v. Van Kirk | 41 | 1 | 2001–2026 | 13 |
| 41 | Barker test | Barker v. Wingo | 40 | 1 | 1975–2020 | 0 |
| 42 | laches doctrine | Kelleher v. Board of Social Work Examiners & Licensed Professional Counselors | 39 | 1 | 1915–2025 | 3 |
| 43 | record shows error | State v. Van Kirk | 39 | 1 | 1911–2023 | 1 |
| 44 | transaction rule | State v. Guill | 38 | 1 | 1996–2026 | 7 |
| 45 | subject matter claim | Loney v. Milodragovich, Dale & Dye, P.C. | 36 | 1 | 1924–2021 | 1 |
| 46 | Alford plea | North Carolina v. Alford | 35 | 1 | 1992–2026 | 8 |
| 47 | de novo standard | Stanley v. Lemire | 35 | 1 | 1989–2026 | 4 |
| 48 | attorney-client privilege | Kuiper v. District Court of the Eighth Judicial District | 34 | 1 | 1972–2025 | 4 |
| 49 | disputable presumption | In Re Wray's Estate | 34 | 1 | 1915–2023 | 1 |
| 50 | district court committed reversible error | State v. Harris | 33 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 5 |
| 51 | principle rule | Fiscus v. Beartooth Electric Cooperative, Inc. | 33 | 1 | 1898–2026 | 2 |
| 52 | show cause hearing | Porter v. K & S PARTNERSHIP | 33 | 1 | 1977–2024 | 3 |
| 53 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 32 | 1 | 1981–2024 | 4 |
| 54 | specification error | State v. Weeks | 32 | 1 | 1896–2021 | 1 |
| 55 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 32 | 1 | 1981–2025 | 17 |
| 56 | plain view doctrine | State v. Loh | 31 | 1 | 1977–2025 | 1 |
| 57 | reasonable doubt standard | Chapman v. California | 31 | 1 | 1974–2024 | 2 |
| 58 | second prong test | Strickland v. Washington | 31 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 4 |
| 59 | standing requirement | Olson v. Department of Revenue | 31 | 1 | 1962–2026 | 6 |
| 60 | adverse claim | In Re the Marriage of Denly | 30 | 1 | 1883–2018 | 0 |
| 61 | confrontation clause | Idaho v. Wright | 30 | 1 | 1980–2022 | 4 |
| 62 | of review standard | Steer, Inc. v. Department of Revenue | 30 | 1 | 1993–2021 | 1 |
| 63 | change of plea hearing | State v. Enoch | 29 | 1 | 1994–2025 | 6 |
| 64 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Aetna Life & Casualty Insurance v. Johnson | 29 | 1 | 1978–2025 | 3 |
| 65 | equitable estoppel doctrine | Elk Park Ranch, Inc. v. Park County | 29 | 1 | 1910–2022 | 2 |
| 66 | first prong test | State v. Tecca | 29 | 1 | 1985–2023 | 3 |
| 67 | particularized suspicion standard | State v. Gopher | 29 | 1 | 1993–2024 | 1 |
| 68 | circumstances error | Postconviction Relief of Brodniak v. State | 28 | 1 | 1912–2020 | 0 |
| 69 | modified Just rule | State v. Matt | 28 | 1 | 1993–2026 | 2 |
| 70 | prima facie claim | Blume v. Metropolitan Life Insurance | 28 | 1 | 1901–2022 | 1 |
| 71 | scrutiny analysis | Dunn v. Blumstein | 28 | 1 | 1983–2025 | 6 |
| 72 | community caretaker doctrine | State v. Lovegren | 27 | 1 | 2002–2024 | 7 |
| 73 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 27 | 1 | 1971–2010 | 0 |
| 74 | proposed jury instruction | Fillinger v. Northwestern Agency, Inc. | 27 | 1 | 1981–2026 | 3 |
| 75 | sovereign immunity | Orr v. State | 27 | 1 | 1973–2023 | 1 |
| 76 | mootness doctrine | Turner v. Mountain Engineering and Const., Inc. | 26 | 1 | 1996–2022 | 4 |
| 77 | residual clause | Salway v. Arkava | 26 | 1 | 1988–2017 | 0 |
| 78 | three part test | Interstate Production Credit Ass'n v. Desaye | 26 | 1 | 1973–2020 | 0 |
| 79 | specifications error | Schumacher v. Cole | 25 | 1 | 1921–1980 | 0 |
| 80 | adjudication hearing | Cribb v. Matlock Communications, Inc. | 24 | 1 | 1986–2025 | 4 |
| 81 | exhaustion doctrine | Mitchell v. Town of West Yellowstone | 24 | 1 | 1981–2025 | 5 |
| 82 | legitimate claim | Board of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth | 24 | 1 | 1980–2019 | 0 |
| 83 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Whitney v. Northwest Greyhound Lines, Inc. | 24 | 1 | 1913–2005 | 0 |
| 84 | unanimity instruction | State v. Weaver | 24 | 1 | 1980–2025 | 6 |
| 85 | cautionary jury instruction | State v. Partin | 23 | 1 | 1984–2026 | 1 |
| 86 | ease bar | Waite v. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. | 23 | 1 | 1896–1969 | 0 |
| 87 | felony-murder rule | State v. Weinberger | 23 | 1 | 1976–2024 | 1 |
| 88 | Johnson motion | State v. Ambriz | 23 | 1 | 1981–2024 | 3 |
| 89 | overriding principle | Tarlton v. Kaufman | 23 | 1 | 1959–2020 | 0 |
| 90 | facts constituting claim | Donnelly v. Clark | 22 | 1 | 1908–2024 | 1 |
| 91 | has recognized exception | Bails v. Stan Gar | 22 | 1 | 1905–2023 | 1 |
| 92 | American rule | Foy v. Anderson | 21 | 1 | 1888–2024 | 2 |
| 93 | blood alcohol test | Schmerber v. California | 21 | 1 | 1971–2024 | 1 |
| 94 | discussion standard | Minnie v. City of Roundup | 21 | 1 | 1919–2022 | 1 |
| 95 | interpretation of an evidentiary rule | State v. Derbyshire | 21 | 1 | 2009–2026 | 8 |
| 96 | Daubert factors | State v. Cline | 20 | 1 | 1994–2026 | 2 |
| 97 | estoppel doctrine | Hustad v. Reed | 20 | 1 | 1924–2019 | 0 |
| 98 | ex post facto test | State v. Mount | 20 | 1 | 1979–2026 | 4 |
| 99 | face claim | Day v. Payne | 20 | 1 | 1935–2024 | 2 |
| 100 | foundation claim | Sullivan v. City of Butte | 20 | 1 | 1885–2012 | 0 |
| 101 | has adopted test | Interstate Brands Corp. v. Cannon | 20 | 1 | 1890–2025 | 2 |
| 102 | rationale behind rule | State v. Bouldin | 20 | 1 | 1969–2022 | 1 |
| 103 | second part test | United States v. Cronic | 20 | 1 | 1960–2016 | 0 |
| 104 | Sixth Amendment violation | United States v. Cronic | 20 | 1 | 1975–2026 | 2 |
| 105 | third-party claim | Fowler v. State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance | 20 | 1 | 1943–2019 | 0 |
| 106 | work product doctrine | Kuiper v. District Court of the Eighth Judicial District | 20 | 1 | 1981–2018 | 0 |
| 107 | adequate initial inquiry | State v. Gallagher | 19 | 1 | 1998–2024 | 3 |
| 108 | fund doctrine | Means v. Montana Power Co. | 19 | 1 | 1933–2008 | 0 |
| 109 | HGN test | Hulse v. State, Department of Justice | 19 | 1 | 1988–2025 | 1 |
| 110 | private attorney general doctrine | Department of Fish, Wildlife & Parks v. Montana Stockgrowers Ass'n | 19 | 1 | 1992–2025 | 7 |
| 111 | stare decisis doctrine | In Re Harper's Estate | 19 | 1 | 1872–2025 | 4 |
| 112 | state law claim | Lingle v. Norge Division of Magic Chef, Inc. | 19 | 1 | 1987–2020 | 0 |
| 113 | transfer hearing | In Re Stevenson | 19 | 1 | 1973–2023 | 1 |
| 114 | unjust enrichment claim | Northern Cheyenne Tribe v. Roman Catholic Church | 19 | 1 | 1967–2024 | 4 |
| 115 | answer inquiry | Shapard v. City of Missoula | 18 | 1 | 1909–2022 | 1 |
| 116 | bad faith claim | Story v. City of Bozeman | 18 | 1 | 1990–2024 | 1 |
| 117 | forum non conveniens doctrine | Labella v. Burlington Northern, Inc. | 18 | 1 | 1961–2017 | 0 |
| 118 | legal malpractice claim | Merzlak v. Purcell | 18 | 1 | 1995–2026 | 5 |
| 119 | long standing rule | State v. Gallagher | 18 | 1 | 1968–2008 | 0 |
| 120 | necessity hearing | Cole v. Flathead County | 18 | 1 | 1936–2020 | 0 |
| 121 | nexus test | State v. Ashby | 18 | 1 | 2008–2020 | 0 |
| 122 | bench bar | First Security Bank of Bozeman v. Tholkes | 17 | 1 | 1920–2022 | 1 |
| 123 | first part test | Strickland v. Washington | 17 | 1 | 1937–2022 | 1 |
| 124 | inflexible rule | Libin v. Huffine | 17 | 1 | 1934–2012 | 0 |
| 125 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Montana v. Colt | 17 | 1 | 1982–2022 | 1 |
| 126 | Mother motion | In re T.C. | 17 | 1 | 1979–2024 | 2 |
| 127 | probation revocation hearing | Petition of Meidinger | 17 | 1 | 1989–2024 | 3 |
| 128 | reasons rule | In re R.W.K. | 17 | 1 | 1922–2025 | 4 |
| 129 | careful analysis | Williams v. Illinois | 16 | 1 | 1923–2025 | 2 |
| 130 | categorical bar | Garland v. Anaconda Co. | 16 | 1 | 2007–2022 | 2 |
| 131 | corollary rule | County of Silver Bow v. Davies | 16 | 1 | 1898–2012 | 0 |
| 132 | Doyle error | State v. Sullivan | 16 | 1 | 1996–2025 | 2 |
| 133 | four-element test | State v. Just | 16 | 1 | 1979–2026 | 2 |
| 134 | interpretation rule | Easy v. State of Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation | 16 | 1 | 1890–2023 | 2 |
| 135 | minimum standard | Newville v. State, Dept. of Family Services | 16 | 1 | 1925–2026 | 3 |
| 136 | minority rule | Glantz v. Gabel | 16 | 1 | 1917–2023 | 1 |
| 137 | preemption clause | Alvan H. Wolf v. Reliance Standard Life Insurance Company | 16 | 1 | 1977–2025 | 1 |
| 138 | prejudicial error | Postconviction Relief of Brodniak v. State | 16 | 1 | 1899–2017 | 0 |
| 139 | public duty doctrine | Nelson v. Driscoll | 16 | 1 | 1932–2020 | 0 |
| 140 | statute of limitations defense | Dagel v. City of Great Falls | 16 | 1 | 1933–2024 | 2 |
| 141 | wage claim | Como v. Rhines | 16 | 1 | 1986–2020 | 0 |
| 142 | Anders brief | Anders v. California | 15 | 1 | 1992–2025 | 7 |
| 143 | announced rule | United States v. Halper | 15 | 1 | 1907–1999 | 0 |
| 144 | Ariegwe factors | State v. Ariegwe | 15 | 1 | 2007–2024 | 4 |
| 145 | custody hearing | In Re Declaring Alisa | 15 | 1 | 1977–2012 | 0 |
| 146 | entrapment defense | United States v. Russell | 15 | 1 | 1955–2020 | 0 |
| 147 | equitable tolling doctrine | Erickson v. Croft | 15 | 1 | 1988–2025 | 3 |
| 148 | exception rather rule | Langston v. Currie | 15 | 1 | 1929–2023 | 1 |
| 149 | flexible standard | Brown v. North American Manufacturing Co. | 15 | 1 | 1983–2024 | 1 |
| 150 | forfeiture doctrine | People v. Moreno | 15 | 1 | 1919–2023 | 1 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.