The doctrines Virginia 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 | Porter v. Com. | 564 | 4 | 1991–2026 | 259 |
| 2 | ends of justice exception | Redman v. Commonwealth | 548 | 2 | 1989–2026 | 214 |
| 3 | hearsay rule | Neal v. Commonwealth | 448 | 14 | 1919–2026 | 50 |
| 4 | affirmative defense | Smith v. Commonwealth | 356 | 20 | 1922–2026 | 124 |
| 5 | exclusionary rule | United States v. Leon | 343 | 23 | 1962–2026 | 50 |
| 6 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 329 | 19 | 1967–2026 | 49 |
| 7 | due process clause | Commonwealth v. Peterson | 314 | 27 | 1906–2026 | 43 |
| 8 | contemporaneous objection rule | Jason N. Creamer v. Commonwealth of Virginia | 294 | 3 | 1982–2026 | 141 |
| 9 | warrant requirement | United States v. Robinson | 278 | 20 | 1974–2026 | 49 |
| 10 | harmless error | Commonwealth v. White | 273 | 4 | 1897–2026 | 74 |
| 11 | Fourth Amendment violation | Whren v. United States | 269 | 19 | 1968–2026 | 43 |
| 12 | Terry stop | Terry v. Ohio | 244 | 14 | 1983–2026 | 31 |
| 13 | judicial restraint dictates that we decide doctrine | Commonwealth v. White | 242 | 2 | 2015–2026 | 192 |
| 14 | de novo standard | Box v. Talley | 240 | 4 | 1988–2026 | 76 |
| 15 | ore tenus hearing | Venable v. Venable | 230 | 6 | 1956–2026 | 13 |
| 16 | sovereign immunity | Messina v. Burden | 221 | 40 | 1973–2026 | 34 |
| 17 | proponent instruction | Commonwealth v. Vaughn | 205 | 7 | 1992–2026 | 90 |
| 18 | double jeopardy clause | Davis v. Commonwealth | 199 | 15 | 1970–2026 | 35 |
| 19 | fundamental principle | Jayquane D. Perry v. Commonwealth of Virginia | 177 | 15 | 1843–2025 | 31 |
| 20 | non-constitutional error | Clay v. Commonwealth | 158 | 2 | 1991–2026 | 62 |
| 21 | certificate analysis | Gray v. Commonwealth | 155 | 7 | 1970–2026 | 25 |
| 22 | proffered instruction | McClung v. Commonwealth | 143 | 5 | 1975–2026 | 31 |
| 23 | good faith exception | United States v. Leon | 138 | 16 | 1916–2026 | 32 |
| 24 | proffered jury instruction | Commonwealth v. Vaughn | 136 | 2 | 1999–2026 | 69 |
| 25 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 132 | 9 | 1967–2026 | 13 |
| 26 | per se rule | Ake v. Oklahoma | 124 | 8 | 1977–2026 | 19 |
| 27 | preponderance of the evidence standard | Toms v. Hanover Department of Social Services | 124 | 7 | 1922–2025 | 26 |
| 28 | res judicata doctrine | Bates v. Devers | 123 | 17 | 1851–2026 | 11 |
| 29 | Brady violation | United States v. Bagley | 108 | 7 | 1980–2026 | 18 |
| 30 | interpanel accord doctrine | Clinchfield Coal Co. v. Reed | 105 | 2 | 2006–2026 | 56 |
| 31 | Virginia rule | Lentz v. Morris | 100 | 16 | 1923–2026 | 5 |
| 32 | equal protection clause | Batson v. Kentucky | 99 | 11 | 1921–2024 | 2 |
| 33 | prima facie presumption | Kay Management Co., Inc. v. Creason | 99 | 10 | 1852–2026 | 14 |
| 34 | probable cause standard | Maryland v. Pringle | 93 | 11 | 1975–2026 | 20 |
| 35 | Blockburger test | Blockburger v. United States | 89 | 9 | 1979–2026 | 9 |
| 36 | opportunity of seeing hearing | Schneider v. Commonwealth | 88 | 2 | 1985–2026 | 30 |
| 37 | plain view doctrine | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 82 | 7 | 1987–2026 | 13 |
| 38 | parol evidence rule | High Knob, Inc. v. Allen | 80 | 15 | 1920–2025 | 8 |
| 39 | refused instruction | Boone v. Commonwealth | 80 | 3 | 1924–2025 | 5 |
| 40 | confrontation clause | Crawford v. Washington | 77 | 5 | 1985–2026 | 12 |
| 41 | law of the case doctrine | Steinman v. Clinchfield Coal Corp. | 77 | 3 | 1918–2026 | 25 |
| 42 | judge to possible error | Martin v. Commonwealth | 76 | 1 | 1992–2024 | 8 |
| 43 | sufficiency of the evidence analysis | Hooker v. Commonwealth | 76 | 3 | 1996–2026 | 25 |
| 44 | company rule | Branch v. Virginia Employment Commission & Virginia Chemical Co. | 75 | 14 | 1981–2025 | 2 |
| 45 | good cause exception | Pearce v. Commonwealth | 74 | 3 | 1941–2026 | 37 |
| 46 | knowing and intelligent waiver | Miranda v. Arizona | 74 | 11 | 1974–2026 | 10 |
| 47 | totality of the circumstances analysis | Illinois v. Gates | 74 | 8 | 1986–2026 | 20 |
| 48 | federal constitutional error | Chapman v. California | 73 | 2 | 1920–2026 | 5 |
| 49 | record which substantiates claim | Robinson v. Robinson | 72 | 1 | 1991–2025 | 51 |
| 50 | reasonable-hypothesis principle | Commonwealth v. Hudson | 69 | 2 | 2004–2026 | 42 |
| 51 | qualified privilege | Great Coastal Express, Inc. v. Ellington | 67 | 22 | 1928–2026 | 5 |
| 52 | wrong reason doctrine | Perry v. Com. | 67 | 2 | 2003–2025 | 33 |
| 53 | host factors | Delaware v. Van Arsdall | 66 | 4 | 1987–2026 | 14 |
| 54 | respondeat superior doctrine | McNeill v. Spindler | 66 | 14 | 1914–2025 | 4 |
| 55 | collateral estoppel doctrine | Ashe v. Swenson | 65 | 11 | 1976–2024 | 1 |
| 56 | reasonable doubt error | Chapman v. California | 65 | 2 | 1919–2026 | 10 |
| 57 | Eighth Amendment challenge | Vasquez v. Commonwealth | 62 | 2 | 1983–2026 | 59 |
| 58 | results analysis | Reedy v. Commonwealth | 62 | 4 | 1851–2025 | 6 |
| 59 | Alford plea | North Carolina v. Alford | 61 | 3 | 1995–2025 | 23 |
| 60 | second assignment error | Artis v. Ottenberg's Bakers, Inc. | 60 | 2 | 1883–2025 | 5 |
| 61 | showing of manifest error | Weeks v. Commonwealth | 59 | 8 | 1985–2026 | 2 |
| 62 | business records exception | Kettler & Scott, Inc. v. Earth Technology Companies | 57 | 5 | 1975–2025 | 10 |
| 63 | bona fide claim | Reed v. Commonwealth | 56 | 4 | 1897–2026 | 14 |
| 64 | automobile exception | Maryland v. Dyson | 55 | 8 | 1939–2025 | 18 |
| 65 | demurrer test | Welding, Inc. v. Bland County Service Authority | 55 | 20 | 1919–2026 | 6 |
| 66 | protection of sovereign immunity | James v. Jane | 55 | 17 | 1983–2026 | 7 |
| 67 | Batson challenge | Batson v. Kentucky | 54 | 3 | 1989–2025 | 8 |
| 68 | burden of proving claim | Massey Builders Supply Corp. v. Colgan | 54 | 8 | 1918–2024 | 5 |
| 69 | elementary rule | Cave Hill Corp. v. Hiers | 54 | 6 | 1851–2025 | 4 |
| 70 | insanity defense | Stamper v. Commonwealth | 53 | 4 | 1981–2025 | 9 |
| 71 | Edwards rule | Arizona v. Roberson | 52 | 6 | 1986–2026 | 4 |
| 72 | effect of the asserted error | Johnson v. Raviotta | 52 | 2 | 2002–2026 | 20 |
| 73 | safety rule | Brockway v. Easter | 52 | 4 | 1966–2024 | 5 |
| 74 | blood or breath test | Commonwealth v. Rafferty | 51 | 7 | 1976–2024 | 2 |
| 75 | economic loss rule | Sensenbrenner v. Rust, Orling & Neale, Architects, Inc. | 51 | 16 | 1987–2026 | 6 |
| 76 | inevitable discovery doctrine | Commonwealth v. Jones | 51 | 7 | 1986–2026 | 9 |
| 77 | known right privilege | Johnson v. Zerbst | 51 | 6 | 1966–2026 | 7 |
| 78 | Sixth Amendment violation | United States v. Gonzalez-Lopez | 51 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 10 |
| 79 | standing inquiry | DePriest v. Commonwealth | 51 | 3 | 1876–2026 | 17 |
| 80 | firearm violation | Armstrong v. Commonwealth | 50 | 2 | 1994–2026 | 11 |
| 81 | last clear chance doctrine | Greear v. Noland Company | 50 | 2 | 1911–2018 | 0 |
| 82 | reasonable suspicion standard | United States v. Arvizu | 50 | 3 | 1987–2026 | 12 |
| 83 | explicit cautionary instruction | LeVasseur v. Commonwealth | 49 | 3 | 1983–2026 | 6 |
| 84 | grounds defense | Alexander v. Kuykendall | 49 | 13 | 1912–2025 | 2 |
| 85 | American rule | Lannon v. Lee Conner Realty Corp. | 48 | 8 | 1920–2026 | 9 |
| 86 | date of the evidentiary hearing | Clements v. Clements | 48 | 2 | 1989–2025 | 7 |
| 87 | show cause hearing | Frazier v. Commonwealth | 48 | 5 | 1991–2026 | 7 |
| 88 | employment-at-will doctrine | Bowman v. State Bank of Keysville | 47 | 17 | 1987–2025 | 2 |
| 89 | proposed jury instruction | Howsare v. Commonwealth | 47 | 2 | 1999–2026 | 24 |
| 90 | attorney-client privilege | Commonwealth v. Edwards | 46 | 15 | 1978–2026 | 4 |
| 91 | factor defense | Ake v. Oklahoma | 46 | 5 | 1985–2025 | 7 |
| 92 | burden of rebutting presumption | Rives v. Gooch | 45 | 7 | 1924–2026 | 9 |
| 93 | self-defense instruction | Commonwealth v. Sands | 45 | 2 | 1922–2025 | 10 |
| 94 | estoppel doctrine | Westminster-Canterbury of Hampton Roads, Inc. v. City of Virginia Beach | 44 | 9 | 1877–2026 | 4 |
| 95 | made error | Rollins v. Commonwealth | 44 | 2 | 1932–2024 | 15 |
| 96 | circumstances analysis | Illinois v. Gates | 43 | 7 | 1877–2023 | 8 |
| 97 | community caretaker doctrine | Commonwealth v. Waters | 43 | 5 | 1995–2025 | 10 |
| 98 | transfer hearing | Turner v. Commonwealth | 43 | 7 | 1976–2011 | 0 |
| 99 | holdings results waiver | Johnson v. Commonwealth | 42 | 1 | 2005–2026 | 28 |
| 100 | manifest error | Amanda Barbara Nichole Taylor v. Commonwealth of Virginia | 42 | 5 | 1885–2026 | 18 |
| 101 | offense violation | Commonwealth v. Gregg | 42 | 2 | 1922–2025 | 11 |
| 102 | stare decisis doctrine | Clinchfield Coal Co. v. Reed | 42 | 6 | 1949–2025 | 6 |
| 103 | claim of trial court error | Marshall v. Commonwealth | 41 | 1 | 2000–2020 | 0 |
| 104 | discrete rule | Commonwealth v. Hudson | 40 | 2 | 2002–2026 | 22 |
| 105 | English rule | Powell v. Sims | 40 | 7 | 1835–2009 | 0 |
| 106 | imposition doctrine | Odom v. Red Lobster 235 | 40 | 2 | 1955–2025 | 2 |
| 107 | party who alleges reversible error | Lutes v. Alexander | 40 | 1 | 1992–2025 | 3 |
| 108 | statute of limitations defense | Boykins Narrow Fabrics Corp. v. Weldon Roofing & Sheet Metal, Inc. | 40 | 8 | 1906–2025 | 9 |
| 109 | Strickland test | Strickland v. Washington | 40 | 12 | 1987–2025 | 2 |
| 110 | approbate-reprobate doctrine | Alford v. Commonwealth | 38 | 2 | 2015–2026 | 24 |
| 111 | collateral source rule | Schickling v. Aspinall | 38 | 18 | 1986–2023 | 5 |
| 112 | deferential abuse of discretion standard | Seaton v. Commonwealth | 38 | 2 | 2004–2026 | 13 |
| 113 | five month requirement | Ballance v. Commonwealth | 38 | 3 | 1990–2026 | 8 |
| 114 | judicial restraint doctrine | Commonwealth v. White | 38 | 2 | 2017–2026 | 31 |
| 115 | equitable distribution hearing | Trivett v. Trivett | 37 | 3 | 1991–2026 | 6 |
| 116 | non-constitutional harmless error | Clay v. Commonwealth | 37 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 13 |
| 117 | plea of sovereign immunity | Pike v. Hagaman | 37 | 13 | 1982–2025 | 9 |
| 118 | residuary clause | Proudfit v. Murray | 37 | 6 | 1802–2024 | 2 |
| 119 | subject matter inquiry | Noll v. Rahal | 37 | 9 | 1948–2023 | 2 |
| 120 | work product doctrine | Commonwealth v. Edwards | 37 | 20 | 1970–2018 | 0 |
| 121 | clear and convincing standard | In Re: Brown | 36 | 7 | 1988–2026 | 8 |
| 122 | laches doctrine | Princess Anne Hills Civic League, Inc. v. Susan Constant Real Estate Trust | 36 | 10 | 1874–2026 | 1 |
| 123 | materiality standard | Carpitcher v. Com. | 36 | 7 | 1987–2026 | 8 |
| 124 | party invite error | Rowe v. Com. | 36 | 3 | 2006–2026 | 10 |
| 125 | speedy trial violation | Barker v. Wingo | 36 | 5 | 1987–2025 | 9 |
| 126 | suspicion standard | Wayne Antonio Bland, Jr. v. Commonwealth of Virginia | 36 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 18 |
| 127 | instruction is reversible error | Boone v. Commonwealth | 35 | 1 | 1990–2025 | 4 |
| 128 | judicially created doctrine | Bates v. Devers | 35 | 6 | 1974–2026 | 4 |
| 129 | principle rule | Enders v. Brune | 35 | 6 | 1840–2016 | 0 |
| 130 | agency made a procedural error | Johnston-Willis, Ltd. v. Kenley | 34 | 8 | 1991–2019 | 0 |
| 131 | chain of custody rule | Robertson v. Commonwealth | 34 | 2 | 1984–2025 | 15 |
| 132 | compensability test | National Linen Service v. McGuinn | 34 | 2 | 1985–2021 | 1 |
| 133 | evidence admitted error | Ferguson v. Commonwealth | 34 | 1 | 1993–2026 | 7 |
| 134 | exigent circumstances exception | Kentucky v. King | 34 | 4 | 1992–2026 | 7 |
| 135 | probation revocation hearing | Gagnon v. Scarpelli | 34 | 4 | 1985–2025 | 7 |
| 136 | reasons rule | Johnson v. Commonwealth | 34 | 7 | 1901–2025 | 1 |
| 137 | reliability test | Neil v. Biggers | 34 | 6 | 1970–2025 | 5 |
| 138 | third-party claim | Valley Landscape Co. v. Rolland | 34 | 13 | 1946–2025 | 2 |
| 139 | charitable immunity | Memorial Hospital v. Oakes, Adm'x | 33 | 16 | 1959–2021 | 1 |
| 140 | conviction violation | Phillips v. Commonwealth | 33 | 3 | 1913–2026 | 1 |
| 141 | felony-murder doctrine | King v. Commonwealth | 33 | 3 | 1978–2026 | 3 |
| 142 | invited error | King v. Commonwealth | 33 | 2 | 1923–2025 | 5 |
| 143 | lesser included offense instruction | Commonwealth v. Donkor | 33 | 2 | 1976–2025 | 4 |
| 144 | makes error | Bass v. Commonwealth | 33 | 1 | 2000–2025 | 3 |
| 145 | merger doctrine | Empire Management & Development Co. v. Greenville Associates | 33 | 10 | 1990–2025 | 7 |
| 146 | essence waiver | Chawla v. BurgerBusters, Inc. | 32 | 8 | 1896–2025 | 2 |
| 147 | generally accepted rule | Peck v. Kennedy, Zoning Adm'r | 32 | 7 | 1907–2009 | 0 |
| 148 | granting instruction | Shelton v. Mullins | 32 | 4 | 1903–2024 | 1 |
| 149 | guiding principle | Smith v. Pond | 32 | 6 | 1932–2024 | 3 |
| 150 | medical malpractice claim | Bradshaw v. Aronovitch | 32 | 10 | 1987–2026 | 4 |
Top 150 by distinct citing opinions.