The doctrines Rhode Island 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 | 195 | 2 | 1925–2026 | 7 |
| 2 | de novo standard | State v. Laurence | 159 | 2 | 1975–2026 | 12 |
| 3 | fundamental principle | State v. Levitt | 154 | 2 | 1895–2026 | 17 |
| 4 | affirmative defense | Duquette v. Godbout | 144 | 2 | 1948–2026 | 9 |
| 5 | abuse of discretion standard | State v. Brown | 134 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 19 |
| 6 | raise-or-waive rule | Pollard v. Acer Group | 132 | 2 | 1991–2026 | 28 |
| 7 | hearsay rule | State v. Lynch | 110 | 2 | 1961–2026 | 5 |
| 8 | novel rule | State v. Burke | 95 | 2 | 1980–2026 | 6 |
| 9 | equal protection clause | McGowan v. Maryland | 90 | 2 | 1916–2020 | 0 |
| 10 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 89 | 2 | 1958–2026 | 6 |
| 11 | res judicata doctrine | Eigabri v. Lekas | 86 | 2 | 1974–2026 | 9 |
| 12 | probation revocation hearing | State v. Chase | 83 | 2 | 1974–2024 | 3 |
| 13 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 76 | 2 | 1968–2026 | 6 |
| 14 | public duty doctrine | Catone v. Medberry | 72 | 2 | 1985–2022 | 3 |
| 15 | harmless error | Chapman v. California | 71 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 8 |
| 16 | justice committed reversible error | Strickland v. Washington | 67 | 1 | 1947–2024 | 4 |
| 17 | law of the case doctrine | Salvadore v. Major Electric & Supply, Inc. | 67 | 2 | 1951–2025 | 4 |
| 18 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 55 | 2 | 1971–2024 | 3 |
| 19 | double jeopardy clause | Blockburger v. United States | 54 | 2 | 1973–2023 | 2 |
| 20 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 51 | 2 | 1987–2024 | 1 |
| 21 | Rhode Island rule | Tome v. United States | 50 | 2 | 1967–2021 | 1 |
| 22 | Viti doctrine | Viti v. Zoning Board of Review of Providence | 50 | 2 | 1967–2010 | 0 |
| 23 | confrontation clause | Davis v. Alaska | 49 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 3 |
| 24 | exhaustive analysis | Zarrella v. Robinson | 47 | 2 | 1972–2016 | 0 |
| 25 | per se rule | State v. Parillo | 43 | 2 | 1973–2023 | 1 |
| 26 | parol evidence rule | Fram Corp. v. Davis | 42 | 2 | 1951–2021 | 2 |
| 27 | warrant requirement | State v. Jennings | 42 | 2 | 1973–2026 | 3 |
| 28 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Foster-Glocester Regional School Committee v. Board of Review | 41 | 2 | 1972–2026 | 7 |
| 29 | justice committed clear error | State v. Texieira | 39 | 1 | 1994–2024 | 1 |
| 30 | standing requirement | Burns v. Sundlun | 39 | 2 | 1968–2023 | 2 |
| 31 | findings hearing | Brown v. State | 38 | 2 | 1981–2025 | 6 |
| 32 | home rule | Opinion to the House of Representatives | 38 | 2 | 1939–2023 | 1 |
| 33 | manifest error | Colvin v. Goldenberg | 37 | 2 | 1974–2020 | 0 |
| 34 | first prong test | Strickland v. Washington | 36 | 2 | 1987–2017 | 0 |
| 35 | reasonable doubt error | Chapman v. California | 36 | 2 | 1971–2026 | 6 |
| 36 | sovereign immunity | Calhoun v. City of Providence | 36 | 2 | 1962–2018 | 0 |
| 37 | statute of limitations bar | Locke v. O'BRIEN | 35 | 2 | 1890–2026 | 2 |
| 38 | equitable estoppel doctrine | Greenwich Bay Yacht Basin Associates v. Brown | 34 | 2 | 1990–2022 | 2 |
| 39 | case-by-case analysis | In Re Nicole B. | 32 | 2 | 1985–2022 | 1 |
| 40 | good of society warning | Palmisano v. Toth | 32 | 2 | 1984–2019 | 0 |
| 41 | probable cause standard | State v. Jenison | 31 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 2 |
| 42 | qualified privilege | Ponticelli v. Mine Safety Appliance Co. | 31 | 2 | 1972–2023 | 1 |
| 43 | variance exception | Hugas Corp. v. Veader | 31 | 2 | 1965–2026 | 1 |
| 44 | administrative finality doctrine | Johnston Ambulatory Surgical Associates, Ltd. v. Nolan | 30 | 2 | 1983–2023 | 1 |
| 45 | attorney-client privilege | State v. Von Bulow | 30 | 2 | 1978–2017 | 0 |
| 46 | flexible rule | Chavers v. Fleet Bank (RI), N.A. | 30 | 2 | 1951–2023 | 2 |
| 47 | reviews hearing | Tara J. Cancel, as Administratrix of the Estate of Ira Lukens v. City of Providence | 30 | 1 | 2006–2026 | 8 |
| 48 | laches doctrine | O'REILLY v. Town of Glocester | 29 | 2 | 1937–2023 | 2 |
| 49 | adverse possession claim | Anthony v. Searle | 27 | 2 | 1970–2026 | 3 |
| 50 | American rule | Moore v. Ballard | 27 | 2 | 1918–2025 | 6 |
| 51 | exhaustion requirement | Arnold v. Lebel | 27 | 2 | 1966–2026 | 1 |
| 52 | mootness doctrine | City of Cranston v. Rhode Island Laborers' District Council | 27 | 2 | 2004–2025 | 2 |
| 53 | sound discretion hearing | Iggy's Doughboys, Inc. v. Giroux | 27 | 2 | 1994–2023 | 1 |
| 54 | Brady doctrine | United States v. Bagley | 26 | 2 | 1982–2018 | 0 |
| 55 | deviation standard | Sousa v. Chaset | 26 | 2 | 1969–2021 | 1 |
| 56 | ex post facto clause | Collins v. Youngblood | 26 | 2 | 1917–2022 | 1 |
| 57 | Fourth Amendment violation | Ohio v. Robinette | 26 | 2 | 1980–2025 | 4 |
| 58 | legitimate claim | Board of Regents of State Colleges v. Roth | 26 | 2 | 1978–2015 | 0 |
| 59 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 26 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 4 |
| 60 | absence of clear error | Heath v. Vose | 25 | 2 | 1981–2010 | 0 |
| 61 | clear and convincing standard | In Re Adner G. | 25 | 2 | 1990–2024 | 1 |
| 62 | estoppel doctrine | Greenwich Bay Yacht Basin Associates v. Brown | 25 | 2 | 1877–2011 | 0 |
| 63 | English rule | Clark v. Clark | 24 | 1 | 1851–2016 | 0 |
| 64 | rational basis test | Boucher v. Sayeed | 24 | 2 | 1979–2020 | 0 |
| 65 | separation of powers doctrine | State v. Jacques | 24 | 2 | 1962–2020 | 0 |
| 66 | special duty exception | Kuzniar v. Keach | 24 | 2 | 1989–2010 | 0 |
| 67 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 23 | 2 | 1973–2026 | 5 |
| 68 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 23 | 2 | 1965–2026 | 1 |
| 69 | performance claim | Strickland v. Washington | 23 | 2 | 1970–2026 | 3 |
| 70 | substantive due process violation | Brunelle v. Town of South Kingstown | 23 | 2 | 1991–2020 | 0 |
| 71 | has adopted standard | Strickland v. Washington | 22 | 2 | 1981–2011 | 0 |
| 72 | legislative rule | Lerner v. Gill | 22 | 2 | 1976–2020 | 0 |
| 73 | lesser included offense instruction | State v. McGuy | 22 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 3 |
| 74 | postconviction relief hearing | Rice v. State | 22 | 1 | 2006–2026 | 4 |
| 75 | verdict meets standard | State v. Rivera | 22 | 1 | 2010–2023 | 2 |
| 76 | zoning board hearing | Corporation Service, Inc. v. Zoning Board of Review | 22 | 2 | 1970–2011 | 0 |
| 77 | bail hearing | State v. Skirvin | 21 | 2 | 1973–2021 | 1 |
| 78 | diminished capacity defense | State v. Correra | 21 | 2 | 1980–2016 | 0 |
| 79 | excited utterance exception | State v. St. Jean | 21 | 2 | 1975–2024 | 2 |
| 80 | second step analysis | State v. Bido | 21 | 2 | 1983–2021 | 2 |
| 81 | burden-shifting framework | McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green | 20 | 2 | 2001–2019 | 0 |
| 82 | finding of a probation violation | State v. McLaughlin | 20 | 1 | 2002–2016 | 0 |
| 83 | personal privilege | Calhoun v. City of Providence | 20 | 2 | 1928–2017 | 0 |
| 84 | speedy trial claim | Barker v. Wingo | 20 | 2 | 1979–2015 | 0 |
| 85 | spoliation doctrine | Tancrelle v. Friendly Ice Cream Corp. | 20 | 2 | 1999–2025 | 1 |
| 86 | discussion defendant | Cranston Teachers' Ass'n v. Cranston School Committee | 19 | 1 | 1968–2022 | 1 |
| 87 | fact-intensive inquiry | Filippi v. Filippi | 19 | 2 | 2002–2022 | 1 |
| 88 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 19 | 2 | 1968–2008 | 0 |
| 89 | res ipsa loquitur doctrine | Cinq-Mars v. Kelley | 19 | 2 | 1934–2017 | 0 |
| 90 | work product doctrine | Cabral v. Arruda | 19 | 2 | 1978–2025 | 1 |
| 91 | Barker analysis | Barker v. Wingo | 18 | 2 | 1967–2015 | 0 |
| 92 | function hearing | State v. Waite | 18 | 2 | 1968–2013 | 0 |
| 93 | granting exception | Center Realty Corp. v. Zoning Board of Review | 18 | 2 | 1930–2015 | 0 |
| 94 | merger doctrine | Nunes v. Meadowbrook Development Co., Inc. | 18 | 2 | 1989–2018 | 0 |
| 95 | second part test | Strickland v. Washington | 18 | 2 | 1984–2014 | 0 |
| 96 | Sixth Amendment violation | Doggett v. United States | 18 | 2 | 1979–2018 | 0 |
| 97 | arbitrary and capricious standard | Goncalves v. NMU Pension Trust | 17 | 2 | 2002–2019 | 0 |
| 98 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 17 | 2 | 1980–2013 | 0 |
| 99 | conviction violation | State v. Mattatall | 17 | 2 | 1924–2026 | 1 |
| 100 | election of remedies doctrine | Cipolla v. RI COLLEGE, BD. OF GOVERNORS | 17 | 2 | 1962–2026 | 1 |
| 101 | extensive analysis | Donnelly v. Cowsill | 17 | 2 | 1967–2010 | 0 |
| 102 | Massachusetts rule | Clark v. Clark | 17 | 2 | 1873–2011 | 0 |
| 103 | nondelegation doctrine | Davis v. Wood | 17 | 2 | 1979–2022 | 1 |
| 104 | residuary clause | Apollonio v. Kenyon | 17 | 2 | 1878–2015 | 0 |
| 105 | rigorous standard | Daniel v. Cross | 17 | 2 | 1983–2015 | 0 |
| 106 | second prong test | Strickland v. Washington | 17 | 2 | 1984–2019 | 0 |
| 107 | takings claim | Parella v. Retirement Board of the Rhode Island Employees' Retirement System | 17 | 2 | 1996–2026 | 1 |
| 108 | collateral source rule | Gelsomino v. Mendonca | 16 | 2 | 1966–2013 | 0 |
| 109 | egregious conduct exception | Verity Ex Rel. Verity v. Danti | 16 | 2 | 1994–2022 | 1 |
| 110 | exacting analysis | State v. Cardona | 16 | 2 | 1990–2021 | 1 |
| 111 | First Amendment violation | Herbert v. Lando | 16 | 2 | 1982–2000 | 0 |
| 112 | grant of a special exception | Nani v. Zoning Board of Review of Town of Smithfield | 16 | 2 | 1970–2010 | 0 |
| 113 | plain view doctrine | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 16 | 2 | 1974–2010 | 0 |
| 114 | rationale behind rule | DiFranco v. Klein | 16 | 2 | 1984–2024 | 2 |
| 115 | administrative law that deference doctrine | Pawtucket Power Associates Ltd. v. City of Pawtucket | 15 | 2 | 1993–2011 | 0 |
| 116 | agency rule | City of East Providence v. Public Utilities Commission | 15 | 2 | 1979–2011 | 0 |
| 117 | axiomatic principle | Pine v. Clark | 15 | 2 | 1988–2024 | 1 |
| 118 | ease bar | Queensgate Investment Co. v. Liquor Control Commission | 15 | 2 | 1885–2003 | 0 |
| 119 | faith and credit clause | State of Maryland Central Collection Unit v. Board of Regents for Education | 15 | 2 | 1914–2010 | 0 |
| 120 | generally accepted rule | Israel v. Brooks | 15 | 2 | 1904–2021 | 1 |
| 121 | judicially created doctrine | Lischio v. Zoning Board of Review of North Kingstown | 15 | 2 | 1979–2022 | 1 |
| 122 | justification test | Taft v. Pare | 15 | 2 | 1988–2019 | 0 |
| 123 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Fare v. Michael C. | 15 | 2 | 1972–2022 | 1 |
| 124 | member bar | In Re Roots | 15 | 2 | 1936–2026 | 2 |
| 125 | prima facie violation | Belliveau Building Corp. v. O'Coin | 15 | 2 | 1977–2021 | 2 |
| 126 | public trust doctrine | Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce v. State | 15 | 2 | 1988–2011 | 0 |
| 127 | purposes rule | Hickman v. Taylor | 15 | 2 | 1972–2010 | 0 |
| 128 | reasonable diligence standard | Martin v. Howard | 15 | 2 | 1991–2019 | 0 |
| 129 | self-defense doctrine | State v. Martinez | 15 | 1 | 1980–2021 | 1 |
| 130 | sentence imposed violates standard | State v. Cote | 15 | 2 | 1999–2014 | 0 |
| 131 | substantially similar federal rule | Celotex Corp. v. Catrett, Administratrix of the Estate of Catrett | 15 | 2 | 2007–2025 | 1 |
| 132 | transactional rule | Bossian v. Anderson | 15 | 2 | 1997–2026 | 3 |
| 133 | contention error | Illinois v. Rodriguez | 14 | 1 | 1897–2021 | 1 |
| 134 | corollary principle | Kaya v. Partington | 14 | 2 | 1968–2018 | 0 |
| 135 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 14 | 2 | 1987–2012 | 0 |
| 136 | intention claim | Greenwood v. Rahill | 14 | 2 | 1994–2020 | 0 |
| 137 | privity doctrine | Walsh v. Gowing | 14 | 2 | 1965–2010 | 0 |
| 138 | public interest exception | Buffi v. Ferri | 14 | 2 | 1979–2016 | 0 |
| 139 | reasonable efforts requirement | In Re Nicole B. | 14 | 1 | 1983–2014 | 0 |
| 140 | voluntary waiver | State v. Thornton | 14 | 1 | 1996–2019 | 0 |
| 141 | acquittal defendant | State v. Snow | 13 | 1 | 1980–2026 | 1 |
| 142 | application for a special exception | Salve Regina College v. Zoning Board of Review | 13 | 2 | 1967–2008 | 0 |
| 143 | bad faith claim | Bartlett v. John Hancock Mutual Life Insurance | 13 | 1 | 1988–2025 | 2 |
| 144 | exhaustive review analysis | Bourdon's, Inc. v. Ecin Industries, Inc. | 13 | 2 | 1997–2022 | 1 |
| 145 | Franks hearing | Franks v. Delaware | 13 | 2 | 1986–2025 | 2 |
| 146 | guiding principle | Milardo v. Coastal Resources Management Council | 13 | 2 | 1979–2024 | 1 |
| 147 | legal malpractice claim | Ahmed v. Pannone | 13 | 2 | 1997–2017 | 0 |
| 148 | mere inconvenience standard | Gara Realty, Inc. v. Zoning Board of Review | 13 | 2 | 1989–2011 | 0 |
| 149 | novel constitutional doctrine | State v. Burke | 13 | 1 | 1980–2026 | 1 |
| 150 | presence hearing | State v. Lerner | 13 | 2 | 1973–2014 | 0 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.