The doctrines North Carolina 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. Odom | 1,245 | 3 | 1879–2026 | 189 |
| 2 | affirmative defense | Dobson v. Harris | 1,063 | 4 | 1899–2026 | 168 |
| 3 | fundamental error | State v. Lawrence | 724 | 4 | 1876–2026 | 177 |
| 4 | abuse of discretion standard | State v. Wallace | 603 | 3 | 1981–2026 | 128 |
| 5 | Tbe defendant | State v. . Mills | 519 | 1 | 1870–1963 | 0 |
| 6 | de novo standard | North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources v. Carroll | 447 | 3 | 1943–2026 | 136 |
| 7 | essential element claim | Collingwood v. GEN. ELEC. R. EST. EQUIT. | 401 | 4 | 1977–2026 | 52 |
| 8 | due process clause | International Shoe Co. v. Washington | 399 | 3 | 1926–2026 | 50 |
| 9 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 330 | 2 | 1968–2025 | 23 |
| 10 | hearsay rule | State v. Smith | 314 | 4 | 1912–2026 | 26 |
| 11 | sovereign immunity | Smith v. State | 248 | 4 | 1960–2026 | 59 |
| 12 | felony-murder rule | State v. Artis | 247 | 2 | 1973–2026 | 21 |
| 13 | voir dire hearing | Miranda v. Arizona | 247 | 3 | 1968–2026 | 1 |
| 14 | prejudicial error | State v. Lawrence | 216 | 2 | 1940–2026 | 21 |
| 15 | time of the termination hearing | Matter of Ballard | 207 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 85 |
| 16 | res judicata doctrine | Whitacre Partnership v. Biosignia, Inc. | 189 | 4 | 1951–2026 | 31 |
| 17 | totality of the circumstances test | State v. Larrimore | 174 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 29 |
| 18 | equal protection clause | Batson v. Kentucky | 172 | 3 | 1911–2026 | 36 |
| 19 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 167 | 3 | 1981–2026 | 50 |
| 20 | prima facie claim | Dalton v. Camp | 163 | 4 | 1887–2026 | 19 |
| 21 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 160 | 2 | 1967–2026 | 21 |
| 22 | harmless error | State v. Lawrence | 158 | 2 | 1949–2026 | 26 |
| 23 | warrant requirement | State v. Cooke | 142 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 26 |
| 24 | determinative factors | Matter of Ballard | 138 | 2 | 1926–2026 | 41 |
| 25 | per se rule | State v. Harbison | 123 | 3 | 1971–2026 | 22 |
| 26 | respondeat superior doctrine | Pinnix v. . Griffin | 119 | 4 | 1902–2026 | 8 |
| 27 | self-defense instruction | State v. Bush | 118 | 2 | 1969–2026 | 29 |
| 28 | North Carolina rule | State v. McGrady | 116 | 4 | 1894–2026 | 8 |
| 29 | allegations claim | Stanback v. Stanback | 115 | 3 | 1983–2025 | 28 |
| 30 | probation revocation hearing | State v. Bryant | 113 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 27 |
| 31 | collateral estoppel doctrine | King v. Grindstaff | 112 | 3 | 1958–2026 | 16 |
| 32 | record for possible prejudicial error | Anders v. California | 111 | 1 | 1998–2026 | 5 |
| 33 | qualified privilege | Stewart v. Nation-Wide Check Corporation | 110 | 3 | 1920–2026 | 13 |
| 34 | clear general rule | State v. Coffey | 109 | 2 | 1991–2026 | 20 |
| 35 | pattern jury instruction | State v. Boone | 108 | 2 | 1982–2026 | 23 |
| 36 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Morefield v. . Lackey | 108 | 2 | 1910–2026 | 1 |
| 37 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 107 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 21 |
| 38 | double jeopardy clause | Benton v. Maryland | 104 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 9 |
| 39 | Fourth Amendment violation | Katz v. United States | 101 | 2 | 1973–2026 | 24 |
| 40 | statute of limitations defense | Horton v. Carolina Medicorp, Inc. | 99 | 4 | 1884–2026 | 15 |
| 41 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 96 | 3 | 1966–2026 | 12 |
| 42 | permanency planning hearing | In Re Weiler | 96 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 30 |
| 43 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 95 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 34 |
| 44 | direct claim | Corum v. University of North Carolina | 94 | 3 | 1904–2025 | 20 |
| 45 | Batson challenge | Batson v. Kentucky | 92 | 2 | 1986–2026 | 21 |
| 46 | public duty doctrine | Braswell v. Braswell | 92 | 3 | 1991–2026 | 9 |
| 47 | parol evidence rule | Neal v. Marrone | 91 | 3 | 1920–2026 | 4 |
| 48 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Matter of Montgomery | 91 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 23 |
| 49 | invited error | State v. Barber | 89 | 2 | 1947–2026 | 23 |
| 50 | last clear chance doctrine | Exum v. Boyles | 88 | 3 | 1900–2024 | 5 |
| 51 | udtp claim | Walker v. Fleetwood Homes of North Carolina, Inc. | 88 | 3 | 2003–2026 | 22 |
| 52 | reasonable doubt error | Chapman v. California | 86 | 3 | 1898–2023 | 1 |
| 53 | attorney-client privilege | In Re the Investigation of the Death of Miller | 85 | 3 | 1973–2026 | 8 |
| 54 | probable cause hearing | Maryland v. Pringle | 85 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 20 |
| 55 | IAC claim | Strickland v. Washington | 79 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 39 |
| 56 | defect in the jury instruction | State v. Odom | 78 | 2 | 1983–2026 | 5 |
| 57 | law of the case doctrine | Hayes v. City of Wilmington | 78 | 4 | 1969–2025 | 8 |
| 58 | uniform rule | State v. Braswell | 78 | 2 | 1883–2026 | 3 |
| 59 | defendant assigns error | State v. Deese | 76 | 2 | 1931–2022 | 2 |
| 60 | irrebuttable presumption | Fetner v. Rocky Mount Marble & Granite Works | 76 | 3 | 1907–2023 | 3 |
| 61 | results inquiry | McClerin v. R-M Industries, Inc. | 76 | 3 | 1919–2026 | 3 |
| 62 | udtpa claim | Weaver Investment Co. v. Pressly Development Associates | 76 | 3 | 2000–2026 | 28 |
| 63 | constructive fraud claim | White v. Consolidated Planning, Inc. | 74 | 3 | 1979–2026 | 12 |
| 64 | acting in concert doctrine | State v. Barnes | 73 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 4 |
| 65 | granting clause | Artis v. . Artis | 73 | 2 | 1908–2026 | 1 |
| 66 | merger clause | Zinn v. Walker | 73 | 3 | 1920–2026 | 4 |
| 67 | reasonable suspicion standard | State v. Barnard | 73 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 23 |
| 68 | particularity requirement | Terry v. Terry | 72 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 20 |
| 69 | elementary rule | Cobb v. Clegg. | 70 | 2 | 1824–2026 | 5 |
| 70 | defense of sovereign immunity | Can Am South, LLC v. State, North Carolina Department of Health & Human Services | 69 | 3 | 1980–2026 | 21 |
| 71 | conversion claim | Variety Wholesalers, Inc. v. Salem Logistics Traffic Services, LLC | 68 | 3 | 1956–2026 | 21 |
| 72 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Argersinger v. Hamlin | 67 | 2 | 1973–2022 | 3 |
| 73 | termination of parental rights hearing | In re J.L.K. | 67 | 2 | 2002–2026 | 25 |
| 74 | defense of governmental immunity | Hedrick v. Rains | 66 | 2 | 1946–2024 | 11 |
| 75 | equitable estoppel doctrine | Hamilton v. Hamilton | 66 | 4 | 1926–2023 | 4 |
| 76 | second element claim | Austin v. Continental General Tire | 65 | 3 | 1995–2019 | 0 |
| 77 | Sixth Amendment violation | State v. Rogers | 65 | 2 | 1980–2025 | 10 |
| 78 | Parsons presumption | Perez v. American Airlines/AMR Corp. | 64 | 3 | 2002–2023 | 3 |
| 79 | possession doctrine | State v. Maines | 64 | 2 | 1908–2026 | 4 |
| 80 | plain view doctrine | State v. Graves | 63 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 13 |
| 81 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 63 | 2 | 1991–2026 | 8 |
| 82 | contested case hearing | North Carolina Department of Environment & Natural Resources v. Carroll | 62 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 11 |
| 83 | grounds claim | MMR HOLDINGS, LLC v. City of Charlotte | 62 | 3 | 1886–2026 | 4 |
| 84 | laches doctrine | MMR HOLDINGS, LLC v. City of Charlotte | 62 | 4 | 1943–2026 | 7 |
| 85 | pattern instruction | Barber v. Constien | 62 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 6 |
| 86 | plaintiff has a compensable claim | Austin v. Continental General Tire | 62 | 2 | 1965–2003 | 0 |
| 87 | addressed the removal requirement | Moore v. Standard Mineral Co. | 61 | 2 | 2000–2003 | 0 |
| 88 | adjudication hearing | In re A.B. | 61 | 3 | 1906–2026 | 21 |
| 89 | irrebuttable legal presumption | Barber v. Babcock & Wilcox Construction Co. | 61 | 2 | 1991–2003 | 0 |
| 90 | land clause | Finch v. City of Durham | 61 | 2 | 1918–2025 | 7 |
| 91 | public policy exception | Coman v. Thomas Manufacturing Co. | 61 | 3 | 1922–2023 | 5 |
| 92 | necessary standard | State v. Styles | 60 | 2 | 1884–2026 | 9 |
| 93 | reliability test | State v. McGrady | 60 | 3 | 1985–2025 | 13 |
| 94 | SBM hearing | State v. Brooks | 60 | 2 | 2009–2022 | 13 |
| 95 | operation rule | City of Winston-Salem v. Hoots Concrete Co. | 59 | 2 | 1855–2025 | 5 |
| 96 | equitable distribution claim | Santana v. Santana | 58 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 12 |
| 97 | insurmountable bar | Carlisle v. Keith | 58 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 20 |
| 98 | fatal weakness claim | Caldwell v. Deese | 57 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 6 |
| 99 | mootness doctrine | In Re Inquiry Concerning a Judge No. 53 Peoples | 57 | 2 | 1976–2025 | 10 |
| 100 | individual claim | State v. Lynch | 56 | 3 | 1874–2026 | 8 |
| 101 | proofs offered hearing | Boudreau v. Baughman | 56 | 2 | 1988–2026 | 20 |
| 102 | stare decisis doctrine | Bacon v. Lee | 55 | 3 | 1893–2024 | 20 |
| 103 | crucial inquiry | State v. Austin | 54 | 3 | 1904–2026 | 5 |
| 104 | kind analysis | In Re Shermer | 54 | 3 | 1895–2026 | 6 |
| 105 | lesser included offense instruction | State v. Strickland | 54 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 9 |
| 106 | must give instruction | State v. Hooker | 54 | 2 | 1956–2025 | 8 |
| 107 | forum selection clause | Perkins v. CCH Computax, Inc. | 53 | 3 | 1992–2025 | 11 |
| 108 | minimum contacts analysis | International Shoe Co. v. Washington | 53 | 3 | 1978–2025 | 8 |
| 109 | unjust enrichment claim | Booe v. Shadrick | 53 | 3 | 1952–2026 | 10 |
| 110 | unreasonable error | State v. Braswell | 53 | 2 | 1900–2026 | 9 |
| 111 | Alford plea | North Carolina v. Alford | 51 | 2 | 1992–2026 | 20 |
| 112 | Blakely error | State v. Blackwell | 50 | 2 | 2005–2024 | 3 |
| 113 | legally recognized claim | Raritan River Steel Co. v. Cherry, Bekaert & Holland | 50 | 2 | 1982–2024 | 12 |
| 114 | exceptions to the general rule | State v. Greene | 49 | 3 | 1899–2026 | 9 |
| 115 | generally accepted rule | Winder v. . Martin | 49 | 3 | 1906–2024 | 1 |
| 116 | good faith exception | State v. Carter | 49 | 2 | 1983–2026 | 7 |
| 117 | economic loss rule | Bradley Woodcraft, Inc. v. Bodden | 48 | 3 | 2004–2026 | 13 |
| 118 | essential elements claim | Dickens v. Puryear | 48 | 3 | 1978–2025 | 8 |
| 119 | prayer instruction | State v. . McKeithan | 48 | 2 | 1891–1982 | 0 |
| 120 | Harbison error | State v. Harbison | 47 | 2 | 1997–2026 | 14 |
| 121 | residuary clause | Faison v. . Middleton | 47 | 2 | 1870–2022 | 2 |
| 122 | unfounded claim | Caldwell v. Deese | 47 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 3 |
| 123 | aggravating and mitigating factors | State v. Ahearn | 46 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 2 |
| 124 | faith and credit clause | Fleming v. Fleming | 46 | 2 | 1909–2014 | 0 |
| 125 | rational basis test | Rhyne v. K-Mart Corp. | 46 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 11 |
| 126 | structural error | State v. Garcia | 46 | 2 | 2002–2025 | 14 |
| 127 | business records exception | State v. Miller | 45 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 6 |
| 128 | difficult challenge | United States v. Salerno | 45 | 2 | 1982–2026 | 12 |
| 129 | immunity defense | Guthrie v. North Carolina State Ports Authority | 45 | 2 | 1904–2025 | 13 |
| 130 | sudden emergency doctrine | Rodgers v. Thompson | 45 | 2 | 1956–2023 | 3 |
| 131 | business judgment rule | State Ex Rel. Long v. Ila Corp. | 44 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 6 |
| 132 | salutary rule | State v. Whittemore | 44 | 2 | 1891–2010 | 0 |
| 133 | TPR hearing | In the Matter of Jhk | 44 | 2 | 1996–2026 | 14 |
| 134 | Brady violation | United States v. Bagley | 43 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 9 |
| 135 | complaint discloses some insurmountable bar | Sutton v. Duke | 43 | 3 | 1970–2025 | 7 |
| 136 | corpus delicti rule | State v. Parker | 43 | 2 | 1983–2025 | 4 |
| 137 | demanding standard | State v. Styles | 43 | 3 | 1993–2026 | 14 |
| 138 | circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 42 | 3 | 1924–2026 | 13 |
| 139 | ex post facto clause | State v. Bare | 42 | 2 | 1980–2020 | 0 |
| 140 | injunction hearing | Williams v. Greene | 42 | 3 | 1893–2018 | 0 |
| 141 | insanity defense | State v. Huff | 42 | 2 | 1974–2025 | 1 |
| 142 | sovereign right immunity | Guthrie v. North Carolina State Ports Authority | 42 | 3 | 1955–2026 | 11 |
| 143 | Barker factors | Barker v. Wingo | 41 | 2 | 1993–2026 | 18 |
| 144 | defendant who invites error | State v. Barber | 41 | 1 | 2004–2026 | 9 |
| 145 | purposes doctrine | Whitaker v. Clark | 41 | 4 | 1917–2022 | 4 |
| 146 | appellant to show error | L. Harvey and Son Co. v. Jarman | 40 | 2 | 1913–2023 | 3 |
| 147 | breach of fiduciary duty claim | White v. Consolidated Planning, Inc. | 40 | 3 | 1989–2026 | 6 |
| 148 | case-by-case analysis | Emanuel v. Fellows | 40 | 3 | 1984–2026 | 7 |
| 149 | custody inquiry | J. D. B. v. North Carolina | 40 | 2 | 1978–2024 | 12 |
| 150 | error is grave error | State v. Odom | 40 | 2 | 1984–2025 | 17 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.