The doctrines Texas 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 | abuse of discretion standard | Montgomery v. State | 15,264 | 14 | 1977–2026 | 1,638 |
| 2 | affirmative defense | Randall's Food Markets, Inc. v. Johnson | 8,269 | 15 | 1902–2026 | 881 |
| 3 | legal sufficiency challenge | City of Keller v. Wilson | 6,488 | 12 | 1974–2026 | 856 |
| 4 | Anders brief | Anders v. California | 5,327 | 14 | 1925–2026 | 1,387 |
| 5 | factual sufficiency challenge | Cain v. Bain | 3,163 | 10 | 1974–2026 | 271 |
| 6 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 2,963 | 12 | 1984–2026 | 310 |
| 7 | de novo standard | Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda | 2,382 | 12 | 1960–2026 | 386 |
| 8 | due process clause | Brady v. Maryland | 2,253 | 12 | 1911–2026 | 244 |
| 9 | Holley factors | Holley v. Adams | 2,047 | 12 | 1992–2026 | 719 |
| 10 | sovereign immunity | Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda | 1,934 | 9 | 1892–2026 | 332 |
| 11 | clear and prejudicial error | Walker v. Packer | 1,922 | 10 | 1985–2026 | 292 |
| 12 | ineffective assistance claim | Thompson v. State | 1,877 | 12 | 1984–2026 | 229 |
| 13 | reasonable doubt standard | In the Interest of G. M. | 1,722 | 9 | 1911–2026 | 152 |
| 14 | fundamental error | Mustang Pipeline Co. v. Driver Pipeline Co. | 1,721 | 12 | 1867–2026 | 142 |
| 15 | Jackson standard | Jackson v. Virginia | 1,685 | 8 | 1973–2026 | 255 |
| 16 | hearsay rule | Zuliani v. State | 1,684 | 11 | 1919–2026 | 154 |
| 17 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 1,531 | 9 | 1989–2026 | 207 |
| 18 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 1,501 | 13 | 1967–2026 | 135 |
| 19 | punishment hearing | Issa v. State | 1,386 | 8 | 1920–2026 | 160 |
| 20 | harmless error | Cain v. State | 1,327 | 6 | 1912–2026 | 109 |
| 21 | double jeopardy clause | Gonzalez v. State | 1,301 | 10 | 1962–2026 | 136 |
| 22 | warrant requirement | McGee v. State | 1,284 | 8 | 1955–2026 | 103 |
| 23 | record for reversible error | Stafford v. State | 1,155 | 4 | 1983–2026 | 293 |
| 24 | Fourth Amendment violation | Amador v. State | 996 | 5 | 1967–2026 | 75 |
| 25 | bill exception | Buchanan v. State | 995 | 7 | 1879–2026 | 28 |
| 26 | lesser included offense instruction | Hall v. State | 965 | 7 | 1980–2026 | 93 |
| 27 | health care liability claim | Diversicare General Partner, Inc. v. Rubio | 950 | 5 | 1982–2026 | 110 |
| 28 | jury charge error | Almanza v. State | 927 | 11 | 1976–2026 | 204 |
| 29 | character of the alleged error | Motilla v. State | 909 | 11 | 2001–2026 | 195 |
| 30 | clear and convincing standard | In Re JFC | 880 | 8 | 1960–2026 | 120 |
| 31 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 805 | 9 | 1955–2026 | 129 |
| 32 | Batson challenge | Batson v. Kentucky | 799 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 45 |
| 33 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 744 | 7 | 1967–2026 | 79 |
| 34 | accomplice witness rule | Solomon v. State | 713 | 6 | 1949–2026 | 60 |
| 35 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 676 | 5 | 1954–2026 | 45 |
| 36 | dtpa claim | Amstadt v. United States Brass Corp. | 651 | 9 | 1982–2026 | 64 |
| 37 | speedy trial claim | Barker v. Wingo | 640 | 11 | 1973–2026 | 112 |
| 38 | Brady violation | Brady v. Maryland | 639 | 9 | 1974–2026 | 85 |
| 39 | minimum contacts analysis | Guardian Royal Exchange Assurance, Ltd. v. English China Clays, P.L.C. | 629 | 7 | 1975–2026 | 70 |
| 40 | parol evidence rule | Hubacek v. Ennis State Bank | 601 | 7 | 1916–2026 | 50 |
| 41 | application for writ error | Johnson v. Sovereign Camp Woodmen of the World | 594 | 5 | 1895–2026 | 2 |
| 42 | points error | Holley v. Watts | 573 | 4 | 1942–2026 | 14 |
| 43 | equal protection clause | City of Cleburne v. Cleburne Living Center, Inc. | 570 | 7 | 1911–2026 | 37 |
| 44 | self-defense instruction | Saxton v. State | 570 | 8 | 1986–2026 | 95 |
| 45 | beyond-a-reasonable-doubt standard | Zuniga v. State | 563 | 4 | 1980–2026 | 20 |
| 46 | prompt instruction | Ovalle v. State | 563 | 4 | 1919–2026 | 65 |
| 47 | record reflects no reversible error | Anders v. California | 552 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 57 |
| 48 | separation of powers doctrine | Texas Ass'n of Business v. Texas Air Control Board | 550 | 7 | 1966–2026 | 74 |
| 49 | Craddock test | Craddock v. Sunshine Bus Lines, Inc. | 536 | 7 | 1971–2026 | 94 |
| 50 | intermediate standard | In the Interest of G. M. | 532 | 6 | 1981–2026 | 37 |
| 51 | ultra vires exception | The City of El Paso v. Lilli M. Heinrich | 532 | 11 | 1883–2026 | 183 |
| 52 | difficult standard | Ellison v. State | 525 | 9 | 1990–2026 | 76 |
| 53 | State emphasized error | Motilla v. State | 524 | 7 | 1992–2026 | 64 |
| 54 | merits of each claim | Bledsoe v. State | 523 | 3 | 1991–2025 | 91 |
| 55 | best-interest analysis | in the Interest of A.C., J.Y., J.Y. Jr., L.B., and E.B., Children | 514 | 8 | 1976–2026 | 296 |
| 56 | good faith exception | City of Lancaster v. Chambers | 511 | 5 | 1917–2026 | 52 |
| 57 | tcpa motion | In re Lipsky | 511 | 9 | 2005–2026 | 251 |
| 58 | Jackson v. Virginia standard | Brooks v. State | 502 | 7 | 1988–2026 | 56 |
| 59 | systemic requirement | Ford v. State | 500 | 7 | 1996–2026 | 98 |
| 60 | Barker factors | Barker v. Wingo | 479 | 9 | 1995–2026 | 106 |
| 61 | standing doctrine | Kerry Heckman, on Behalf of Themselves and All Other Persons Similarly Situated v. Williamson County | 479 | 8 | 1978–2026 | 119 |
| 62 | record presents no reversible error | Anders v. California | 475 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 76 |
| 63 | preponderance of the evidence standard | In the Interest of G. M. | 474 | 4 | 1939–2026 | 105 |
| 64 | waiver of sovereign immunity | Tooke v. City of Mexia | 468 | 4 | 1977–2026 | 50 |
| 65 | nonexclusive factors | Holley v. Adams | 464 | 5 | 1986–2026 | 50 |
| 66 | mootness doctrine | GENERAL LAND OFFICE OF THE STATE OF TEX. v. Oxy USA, Inc. | 456 | 6 | 1976–2026 | 89 |
| 67 | time of the alleged error | Strickland v. Washington | 451 | 5 | 1967–2026 | 33 |
| 68 | first prong test | Strickland v. Washington | 450 | 6 | 1982–2026 | 37 |
| 69 | expert report requirement | Tyler Scoresby, M.D. v. Catarino Santillan, Individually and as Next Friend of Samuel Santillan, a Minor | 449 | 3 | 2000–2026 | 66 |
| 70 | law of the case doctrine | Hudson v. Wakefield | 449 | 5 | 1970–2026 | 75 |
| 71 | limitations defense | Proulx v. Wells | 445 | 6 | 1935–2026 | 69 |
| 72 | accused error | Almanza v. State | 441 | 3 | 1876–2025 | 35 |
| 73 | Almanza standard | Almanza v. State | 433 | 8 | 1985–2026 | 80 |
| 74 | Sixth Amendment violation | Strickland v. Washington | 433 | 4 | 1980–2026 | 59 |
| 75 | potential rate error | EI Du Pont De Nemours & Co. v. Robinson | 432 | 4 | 1986–2026 | 32 |
| 76 | official immunity | City of Lancaster v. Chambers | 429 | 4 | 1979–2025 | 47 |
| 77 | breach standard | Jelinek v. Casas | 426 | 5 | 1919–2026 | 49 |
| 78 | motion to suppress hearing | State v. Ross | 423 | 6 | 1972–2026 | 46 |
| 79 | credibility defense | Hamel v. State | 412 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 68 |
| 80 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 409 | 7 | 1982–2026 | 34 |
| 81 | corollary requirement | In Re JFC | 409 | 5 | 1913–2026 | 87 |
| 82 | preponderance standard | In the Interest of G. M. | 409 | 6 | 1972–2026 | 25 |
| 83 | takings claim | General Services Commission v. Little-Tex Insulation Co. | 409 | 5 | 1993–2026 | 78 |
| 84 | reliability requirement | Kelly v. State | 398 | 7 | 1993–2026 | 43 |
| 85 | egregious harm standard | Almanza v. State | 394 | 4 | 1988–2026 | 73 |
| 86 | premises liability claim | CMH Homes, Inc. v. Daenen | 392 | 4 | 1993–2026 | 84 |
| 87 | defensive instruction | Shaw v. State | 389 | 6 | 1932–2026 | 59 |
| 88 | second prong test | Strickland v. Washington | 385 | 5 | 1976–2026 | 30 |
| 89 | non-exhaustive Holley factors | Holley v. Adams | 378 | 3 | 2010–2026 | 136 |
| 90 | adjudication hearing | Rickels v. State | 377 | 6 | 1911–2026 | 48 |
| 91 | attorney-client privilege | West v. Solito | 375 | 6 | 1972–2026 | 27 |
| 92 | Solem test | Robert McGruder v. Steven W. Puckett | 372 | 3 | 1995–2025 | 45 |
| 93 | res judicata doctrine | Barr v. Resolution Trust Corp. Ex Rel. Sunbelt Federal Savings | 369 | 7 | 1915–2026 | 37 |
| 94 | factual basis claim | In re Lipsky | 368 | 7 | 1962–2026 | 122 |
| 95 | forum selection clause | In Re AIU Insurance Co. | 363 | 7 | 1991–2026 | 76 |
| 96 | non-exhaustive list factors | Holley v. Adams | 350 | 6 | 1993–2026 | 64 |
| 97 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 348 | 4 | 1983–2026 | 14 |
| 98 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Ashe v. Swenson | 343 | 4 | 1961–2026 | 28 |
| 99 | per se rule | United States v. Sharpe | 343 | 3 | 1971–2025 | 26 |
| 100 | refusal rule | In Re Hearn | 342 | 9 | 1874–2026 | 70 |
| 101 | invited error | Tittizer v. Union Gas Corp. | 340 | 8 | 1908–2026 | 56 |
| 102 | prima facie violation | Duren v. Missouri | 336 | 6 | 1881–2026 | 52 |
| 103 | qualified immunity | Harlow v. Fitzgerald | 333 | 4 | 1970–2025 | 28 |
| 104 | defamation claim | WFAA-TV, Inc. v. McLemore | 331 | 5 | 1985–2026 | 70 |
| 105 | temporary injunction hearing | Davis v. Huey | 329 | 5 | 1943–2026 | 55 |
| 106 | declaratory judgment claim | Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission v. IT-Davy | 328 | 5 | 1993–2026 | 47 |
| 107 | probable impact error | Wesbrook v. State | 323 | 5 | 1990–2026 | 37 |
| 108 | sufficiency of the evidence standard | Jackson v. Virginia | 318 | 6 | 1984–2026 | 28 |
| 109 | case presents no reversible error | Anders v. California | 317 | 3 | 2007–2026 | 138 |
| 110 | legal duty rule | In Re Keeter | 313 | 4 | 1981–2026 | 85 |
| 111 | non-exclusive factors | Holley v. Adams | 313 | 5 | 1992–2026 | 102 |
| 112 | meritorious nature claim | Menefield v. State | 311 | 8 | 2002–2026 | 51 |
| 113 | HGN test | Emerson v. State | 309 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 15 |
| 114 | oral hearing | Martin v. Martin, Martin & Richards, Inc. | 308 | 8 | 1939–2026 | 56 |
| 115 | source doctrine | Harris v. State | 308 | 6 | 1894–2026 | 10 |
| 116 | area inquiry | Barajas v. State | 306 | 3 | 1972–2026 | 24 |
| 117 | clear and convincing evidence standard | In Re JFC | 306 | 7 | 1980–2026 | 94 |
| 118 | nonexclusive list factors | Holley v. Adams | 303 | 6 | 1993–2026 | 49 |
| 119 | legal malpractice claim | Alexander v. Turtur & Associates, Inc. | 301 | 6 | 1985–2026 | 30 |
| 120 | emergency doctrine | Laney v. State | 300 | 5 | 1889–2025 | 33 |
| 121 | probation revocation hearing | Cobb v. State | 299 | 5 | 1971–2026 | 27 |
| 122 | necessity defense | Juarez v. State | 298 | 5 | 1906–2026 | 53 |
| 123 | adverse claim | Hahn v. Love | 297 | 6 | 1857–2026 | 20 |
| 124 | totality of the circumstances test | Illinois v. Gates | 296 | 4 | 1971–2026 | 24 |
| 125 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 294 | 7 | 1968–2026 | 14 |
| 126 | omission instruction | Almanza v. State | 294 | 5 | 1896–2026 | 25 |
| 127 | pleading requirement | Texas Department of Parks & Wildlife v. Miranda | 293 | 6 | 1916–2026 | 48 |
| 128 | Robinson factors | Gammill v. Jack Williams Chevrolet, Inc. | 293 | 5 | 1979–2026 | 24 |
| 129 | venue hearing | Compton v. Elliott | 291 | 5 | 1917–2026 | 16 |
| 130 | highly deferential standard | State v. McLain | 289 | 4 | 1997–2026 | 31 |
| 131 | applicant claim | Ex Parte Ybarra | 286 | 4 | 1926–2026 | 47 |
| 132 | logical force factors | Gilbert v. State | 284 | 4 | 1991–2026 | 14 |
| 133 | efficacy of any cautionary instruction | Mosley v. State | 282 | 3 | 1990–2025 | 43 |
| 134 | habeas hearing | Kniatt v. State | 280 | 5 | 1970–2026 | 51 |
| 135 | breach of fiduciary duty claim | Jones v. Blume | 277 | 7 | 1999–2026 | 42 |
| 136 | non-constitutional error | Motilla v. State | 277 | 5 | 1998–2026 | 54 |
| 137 | substance claim | Potier v. State | 273 | 7 | 1878–2026 | 57 |
| 138 | waiver of governmental immunity | Steele v. City of Houston | 272 | 5 | 1966–2026 | 47 |
| 139 | proportionality claim | Rummel v. Estelle | 270 | 4 | 1980–2026 | 55 |
| 140 | insanity defense | Ruffin v. State | 269 | 5 | 1952–2026 | 26 |
| 141 | plain view doctrine | Walter v. State | 266 | 4 | 1972–2026 | 28 |
| 142 | contractual privilege | Speth v. State | 265 | 7 | 1949–2026 | 22 |
| 143 | offense violation | Walters v. State | 265 | 4 | 1896–2026 | 28 |
| 144 | opportunity to correct error | Martinez v. State | 263 | 6 | 1917–2026 | 62 |
| 145 | ruling error | Carranza v. State | 261 | 4 | 1891–2026 | 31 |
| 146 | burden-shifting analysis | McDonnell Douglas Corp. v. Green | 256 | 8 | 1985–2026 | 76 |
| 147 | fraudulent inducement claim | Haase v. Glazner | 256 | 4 | 1994–2026 | 32 |
| 148 | excited utterance exception | Zuliani v. State | 255 | 8 | 1985–2026 | 39 |
| 149 | list factors | Holley v. Adams | 255 | 4 | 1933–2025 | 34 |
| 150 | open courts challenge | Sax v. Votteler | 255 | 2 | 1986–2025 | 12 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.