The doctrines Pennsylvania 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 | Anders brief | Burgess v. COURT OF COMMON PLEAS PHILA. COUNTY | 2,839 | 4 | 1970–2026 | 1,063 |
| 2 | abuse of discretion standard | Powell v. EMIGRANT MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC. | 2,069 | 17 | 1965–2026 | 588 |
| 3 | weight claim | Commonwealth v. Champney | 1,754 | 11 | 1953–2026 | 675 |
| 4 | de novo standard | Commonwealth v. Spotz | 1,548 | 26 | 1953–2026 | 652 |
| 5 | timeliness exception | Commonwealth v. Bennett | 1,486 | 6 | 1977–2026 | 434 |
| 6 | pcra hearing | Commonwealth v. Wah | 1,446 | 9 | 1991–2026 | 464 |
| 7 | due process clause | Commonwealth v. Tejada | 1,401 | 42 | 1921–2026 | 251 |
| 8 | weight of the evidence claim | Commonwealth v. Diggs | 1,310 | 14 | 1984–2026 | 392 |
| 9 | fundamental principle | In Re Geiger | 1,300 | 44 | 1864–2026 | 199 |
| 10 | facts upon claim | Commonwealth v. Bennett | 1,269 | 8 | 1903–2026 | 371 |
| 11 | needs and welfare analysis | In re L.M. | 1,164 | 3 | 2006–2026 | 336 |
| 12 | meritless claim | Commonwealth v. Loner | 1,151 | 7 | 1979–2026 | 381 |
| 13 | hearsay rule | Com. v. Rivera, W. | 1,093 | 26 | 1924–2026 | 203 |
| 14 | affirmative defense | Barrett v. Barrett | 1,005 | 43 | 1907–2026 | 168 |
| 15 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 947 | 37 | 1968–2026 | 141 |
| 16 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 918 | 5 | 1977–2026 | 379 |
| 17 | zoning hearing | Valley View Civic Ass'n v. Zoning Board of Adjustment | 870 | 29 | 1967–2026 | 159 |
| 18 | failure to raise claim | Commonwealth v. Gamboa-Taylor | 838 | 6 | 1978–2026 | 193 |
| 19 | harmless error | Commonwealth v. Story | 804 | 9 | 1930–2026 | 214 |
| 20 | warrant requirement | Commonwealth v. Simmons | 757 | 20 | 1969–2026 | 199 |
| 21 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Commonwealth v. Pierce | 722 | 8 | 1971–2026 | 220 |
| 22 | petition without hearing | Commonwealth v. Blakeney | 680 | 3 | 1958–2026 | 345 |
| 23 | prisoner mailbox rule | Commonwealth v. Jones | 648 | 4 | 1997–2026 | 240 |
| 24 | sufficiency of the evidence claim | Commonwealth v. Moreno | 634 | 6 | 1975–2026 | 157 |
| 25 | totality of the circumstances test | Commonwealth v. Thompson | 630 | 12 | 1972–2026 | 140 |
| 26 | made error | In re Adoption of S.P. | 606 | 9 | 1898–2026 | 142 |
| 27 | exclusionary rule | Commonwealth v. Edmunds | 603 | 28 | 1962–2026 | 83 |
| 28 | second part analysis | In re L.M. | 597 | 9 | 1944–2026 | 285 |
| 29 | double jeopardy clause | Commonwealth v. Smith | 564 | 24 | 1967–2026 | 58 |
| 30 | per se rule | Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Carrasquillo, J. | 546 | 21 | 1966–2026 | 51 |
| 31 | collateral order doctrine | Melvin v. Doe | 533 | 8 | 1983–2026 | 148 |
| 32 | prejudicial effect error | Commonwealth v. Story | 523 | 6 | 1973–2026 | 165 |
| 33 | deliberate violation | Kentucky Fried Chicken of Altoona, Inc. v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review | 522 | 5 | 1909–2026 | 23 |
| 34 | equal protection clause | Curtis v. Kline | 509 | 23 | 1938–2026 | 44 |
| 35 | reasonable doubt error | Commonwealth v. Story | 508 | 9 | 1919–2026 | 86 |
| 36 | newly-discovered fact exception | Commonwealth v. Bennett | 483 | 2 | 2014–2026 | 311 |
| 37 | excessive sentence claim | Commonwealth v. Raven | 465 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 270 |
| 38 | after-discovered evidence claim | Thach v. Abington Memorial Hospital | 446 | 5 | 1943–2026 | 182 |
| 39 | newly-discovered facts exception | Commonwealth v. Bennett | 431 | 2 | 2011–2026 | 222 |
| 40 | law of the case doctrine | Commonwealth v. Starr | 419 | 12 | 1938–2026 | 113 |
| 41 | Mother brief | In re Adoption of S.P. | 417 | 3 | 1995–2026 | 154 |
| 42 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 416 | 13 | 1973–2026 | 102 |
| 43 | four part analysis | Commonwealth v. Evans | 408 | 7 | 1973–2026 | 102 |
| 44 | PCRA time bar | Thach v. Abington Memorial Hospital | 408 | 3 | 2001–2026 | 178 |
| 45 | Father brief | In re Adoption of S.P. | 387 | 5 | 1868–2026 | 143 |
| 46 | Pennsylvania rule | Commonwealth v. Gray | 387 | 32 | 1850–2026 | 36 |
| 47 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 384 | 14 | 1963–2026 | 47 |
| 48 | one-year time bar | Commonwealth v. Brandon | 375 | 3 | 2003–2026 | 177 |
| 49 | reasonable inference presumption | Commonwealth v. Drumheller | 369 | 8 | 1986–2026 | 83 |
| 50 | Strickland test | Commonwealth v. Pierce | 367 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 60 |
| 51 | sovereign immunity | Mayle v. Pennsylvania Department of Highways | 363 | 32 | 1951–2026 | 55 |
| 52 | operating privilege | Martinovic v. Commonwealth, Department of Transportation, Bureau of Driver Licensing | 360 | 20 | 1943–2026 | 70 |
| 53 | governmental interference exception | Commonwealth v. Abu-Jamal | 357 | 3 | 2001–2026 | 218 |
| 54 | ex post facto clause | Commonwealth v. Muniz, J., Aplt. | 355 | 10 | 1950–2026 | 74 |
| 55 | sentence is within standard | Commonwealth v. Moury | 347 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 170 |
| 56 | Pierce test | Commonwealth v. Pierce | 346 | 5 | 1973–2026 | 60 |
| 57 | mootness doctrine | In Re Gross | 340 | 7 | 1967–2026 | 132 |
| 58 | sufficient affidavit defense | Chestnut Street National Bank v. Ellis | 325 | 33 | 1895–2023 | 1 |
| 59 | custody factors | C.R.F. v. S.E.F | 324 | 10 | 1961–2026 | 104 |
| 60 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Commonwealth v. Watley | 323 | 7 | 1982–2026 | 85 |
| 61 | parties during the relevant hearing | Powell v. EMIGRANT MORTGAGE COMPANY, INC. | 322 | 2 | 2012–2026 | 77 |
| 62 | parole violation | Morrissey v. Brewer | 321 | 5 | 1953–2026 | 95 |
| 63 | enumerated factors | M.J.M. v. M.L.G. | 308 | 6 | 1980–2026 | 107 |
| 64 | extent of any bond analysis | In the Interest of K.Z.S. | 308 | 1 | 2010–2026 | 127 |
| 65 | attorney-client privilege | In re Thirty-third Statewide Investigating Grand Jury | 304 | 24 | 1976–2026 | 59 |
| 66 | res judicata doctrine | Stevenson v. Silverman | 303 | 26 | 1891–2026 | 40 |
| 67 | parol evidence rule | Gianni v. Russell Co., Inc. | 301 | 28 | 1921–2026 | 29 |
| 68 | prima facie presumption | Commonwealth v. Marti | 296 | 28 | 1885–2026 | 53 |
| 69 | coordinate jurisdiction rule | Commonwealth v. Starr | 294 | 11 | 1995–2026 | 89 |
| 70 | claimant brief | Yellow Freight System, Inc. v. Commonwealth | 291 | 5 | 1919–2026 | 55 |
| 71 | plain view doctrine | Commonwealth v. McCree | 276 | 10 | 1970–2026 | 86 |
| 72 | essence test | State System of Higher Education v. State College University Professional Ass'n | 275 | 14 | 1927–2026 | 31 |
| 73 | time-bar exception | Commonwealth v. Furgess | 273 | 3 | 2010–2026 | 100 |
| 74 | separation of powers doctrine | Apprendi v. New Jersey | 258 | 10 | 1963–2026 | 47 |
| 75 | baseless or meritless claim | Commonwealth v. Poplawski | 257 | 2 | 1995–2026 | 133 |
| 76 | bond-effect analysis | In the Interest of K.Z.S. | 252 | 2 | 2008–2025 | 81 |
| 77 | bald claim | Commonwealth v. Dodge | 247 | 4 | 2001–2026 | 92 |
| 78 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Ashe v. Swenson | 247 | 19 | 1963–2026 | 33 |
| 79 | Grazier hearing | Commonwealth v. Grazier | 246 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 79 |
| 80 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Commonwealth v. Houtz | 244 | 13 | 1967–2026 | 36 |
| 81 | best-interests standard | Marvin v. Pennsylvania Board of Probation & Parole | 241 | 2 | 2001–2026 | 96 |
| 82 | discretionary challenge | Commonwealth v. Allen | 241 | 7 | 1924–2026 | 72 |
| 83 | work rule | Williams v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review | 241 | 4 | 1895–2026 | 31 |
| 84 | Fourth Amendment violation | Katz v. United States | 240 | 9 | 1965–2026 | 42 |
| 85 | Frye test | Grady v. Frito-Lay, Inc. | 240 | 17 | 1977–2026 | 43 |
| 86 | record and without legal error | Commonwealth v. Edmiston | 237 | 2 | 2008–2026 | 19 |
| 87 | Gagnon II hearing | Gagnon v. Scarpelli | 235 | 3 | 1975–2026 | 75 |
| 88 | merger doctrine | Commonwealth v. Anderson | 232 | 9 | 1906–2026 | 34 |
| 89 | estate exception | Mascaro v. Youth Study Center | 231 | 28 | 1901–2026 | 21 |
| 90 | res gestae exception | Commonwealth v. Brown | 231 | 6 | 1925–2026 | 78 |
| 91 | property exception | Mascaro v. Youth Study Center | 228 | 24 | 1896–2026 | 23 |
| 92 | discretionary sentencing claim | Commonwealth v. Cartrette | 224 | 2 | 1997–2026 | 113 |
| 93 | probable cause standard | Illinois v. Gates | 224 | 12 | 1967–2026 | 52 |
| 94 | Finley brief | Commonwealth v. Finley | 219 | 1 | 1991–2026 | 88 |
| 95 | relaxed waiver | Hertzberg v. Zoning Board of Adjustment | 219 | 9 | 1958–2026 | 23 |
| 96 | alibi instruction | Commonwealth v. Pounds | 213 | 3 | 1933–2026 | 35 |
| 97 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 212 | 12 | 1968–2026 | 48 |
| 98 | newly-recognized constitutional right exception | Miller v. Alabama | 212 | 3 | 2014–2026 | 33 |
| 99 | legality of sentence claim | Commonwealth v. Miller | 211 | 2 | 2005–2026 | 52 |
| 100 | rational basis test | Nixon v. Commonwealth | 209 | 13 | 1973–2026 | 36 |
| 101 | self-defense claim | Commonwealth v. Smith | 206 | 4 | 1972–2026 | 84 |
| 102 | Alleyne claim | Commonwealth v. Washington, T., Aplt. | 198 | 3 | 2014–2025 | 15 |
| 103 | local rule | Byard F. Brogan, Inc. v. Holmes Electric Protective Co. | 198 | 17 | 1925–2026 | 17 |
| 104 | performance and prejudice test | Strickland v. Washington | 194 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 44 |
| 105 | penalty hearing | Luke v. Cataldi | 193 | 14 | 1890–2024 | 10 |
| 106 | multitude factors | Forbes v. Pennsylvania Department of Corrections | 188 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 63 |
| 107 | PCRA premised claim | Commonwealth v. Johnson | 188 | 1 | 2014–2026 | 98 |
| 108 | elements of an ineffectiveness claim | Commonwealth v. Treiber, S., Aplt | 186 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 83 |
| 109 | cognizable claim | Gateway Towers Condominium Ass'n v. Krohn | 185 | 8 | 1976–2026 | 36 |
| 110 | issued rule | Commonwealth, Aplt. v. Walker, T. | 182 | 4 | 1971–2026 | 79 |
| 111 | clear and convincing standard | Commonwealth v. Meals | 181 | 10 | 1983–2026 | 47 |
| 112 | basis of environmental factors | Gwin v. Merkin | 180 | 1 | 1992–2026 | 91 |
| 113 | Batson claim | Batson v. Kentucky | 176 | 5 | 1986–2026 | 39 |
| 114 | act constituting violation | Commonwealth v. Brumbaugh | 172 | 6 | 1978–2026 | 81 |
| 115 | Appellees motion | Ficarra, D. v. Consolidated Rail Corp. | 170 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 49 |
| 116 | layered claim | Commonwealth v. Burkett | 170 | 2 | 2002–2026 | 97 |
| 117 | parole revocation hearing | Morrissey v. Brewer | 170 | 4 | 1966–2026 | 37 |
| 118 | vehicle exception | Love v. City of Philadelphia | 170 | 14 | 1947–2026 | 32 |
| 119 | evidentiary abuse of discretion standard | Commonwealth v. Zugay | 169 | 3 | 2000–2026 | 63 |
| 120 | standing requirement | Costopoulos v. Thornburgh | 166 | 12 | 1894–2026 | 39 |
| 121 | statute of limitations defense | Commonwealth v. Darush | 165 | 14 | 1904–2026 | 40 |
| 122 | public policy exception | Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 v. Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7 Classroom Assistants Educational Support Personnel Ass'n | 162 | 17 | 1931–2026 | 25 |
| 123 | ineffective assistance claim | Commonwealth v. Ali | 161 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 62 |
| 124 | PCRA petition without hearing | Commonwealth v. Brown | 161 | 3 | 1996–2026 | 65 |
| 125 | matter he seeks challenge | Wm. Penn Parking Garage, Inc. v. City of Pittsburgh | 160 | 11 | 1975–2026 | 35 |
| 126 | concomitantly deferential standard | Commonwealth v. Moury | 157 | 3 | 2007–2026 | 49 |
| 127 | due diligence inquiry | Commonwealth v. Burton | 156 | 5 | 1979–2026 | 73 |
| 128 | compulsory joinder rule | Commonwealth v. Perfetto | 155 | 5 | 1983–2026 | 37 |
| 129 | residuary clause | Bricker's Estate | 153 | 26 | 1863–2026 | 4 |
| 130 | irrebuttable presumption | In the Interest of J.B. | 152 | 9 | 1900–2026 | 51 |
| 131 | second prong test | Commonwealth v. Collins | 152 | 8 | 1974–2026 | 23 |
| 132 | guilty plea hearing | Commonwealth v. Willis | 150 | 4 | 1968–2026 | 50 |
| 133 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 149 | 11 | 1897–2025 | 23 |
| 134 | Sixth Amendment claim | Commonwealth v. Collins | 149 | 6 | 1971–2026 | 18 |
| 135 | decree rule | Summit Towne Centre, Inc. v. Shoe Show of Rocky Mount, Inc. | 147 | 7 | 1870–2026 | 31 |
| 136 | PCRA timeliness requirement | Commonwealth v. Taylor | 147 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 30 |
| 137 | reasonable suspicion standard | Terry v. Ohio | 147 | 6 | 1983–2026 | 59 |
| 138 | request for an evidentiary hearing | Commonwealth v. Mason, L., Aplt | 145 | 3 | 1991–2026 | 80 |
| 139 | bonding analysis | In Re ZP | 143 | 3 | 1985–2026 | 32 |
| 140 | Gagnon I hearing | Gagnon v. Scarpelli | 142 | 4 | 1975–2026 | 46 |
| 141 | laches doctrine | Fulton v. Fulton | 142 | 15 | 1935–2026 | 19 |
| 142 | diminished capacity defense | Commonwealth v. Hutchinson | 141 | 4 | 1979–2026 | 24 |
| 143 | burden of proving defense | Madison Construction Co. v. Harleysville Mutual Insurance | 140 | 14 | 1919–2026 | 19 |
| 144 | Vehicle Code violation | Commonwealth v. Holmes | 140 | 8 | 1971–2026 | 36 |
| 145 | Miller factors | Commonwealth v. Batts, Q., Aplt. | 137 | 4 | 1975–2026 | 26 |
| 146 | speedy trial claim | Barker v. Wingo | 137 | 4 | 1970–2026 | 36 |
| 147 | bond analysis | In Re ZP | 136 | 9 | 1922–2026 | 58 |
| 148 | estoppel doctrine | Jones v. Trojak | 136 | 21 | 1849–2025 | 11 |
| 149 | immunity defense | Mascaro v. Youth Study Center | 136 | 15 | 1912–2026 | 23 |
| 150 | adjudication violation | Nolan v. Unemployment Compensation Board of Review | 135 | 14 | 1851–2026 | 19 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.