The doctrines Virgin Islands 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 Center Wholesale, Inc. | 64 | 2 | 1978–2026 | 11 |
| 2 | Banks analysis | Banks v. International Rental & Leasing Corp. | 60 | 2 | 2014–2026 | 17 |
| 3 | plain error | Francis v. People | 60 | 2 | 2007–2025 | 1 |
| 4 | affirmative defense | Rennie v. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. | 45 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 4 |
| 5 | soundest rule | Simon v. Joseph | 45 | 2 | 2013–2026 | 10 |
| 6 | claims-processing rule | Vazquez v. Vazquez | 36 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 4 |
| 7 | exclusionary rule | Stone v. Powell | 25 | 2 | 1981–2026 | 3 |
| 8 | collateral order doctrine | Miller v. Sorenson | 23 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 10 |
| 9 | harmless error | Arizona v. Fulminante | 22 | 1 | 2002–2017 | 0 |
| 10 | abuse of discretion standard | Harris v. Pernsley | 21 | 2 | 2004–2025 | 2 |
| 11 | of review standard | Blyden v. People | 19 | 2 | 2005–2016 | 0 |
| 12 | local rule | Vanterpool v. Government of the Virgin Islands | 18 | 2 | 2000–2026 | 4 |
| 13 | warrant requirement | Terry v. Ohio | 18 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 1 |
| 14 | non-jurisdictional claims-processing rule | Mapp v. Fawkes | 17 | 2 | 2013–2024 | 2 |
| 15 | equal protection clause | General Offshore Corp. v. Farrelly | 16 | 3 | 1964–2026 | 2 |
| 16 | fundamental principle | Armstrong v. Manzo | 16 | 3 | 1968–2025 | 4 |
| 17 | separation of powers doctrine | Smith v. Magras | 16 | 2 | 1995–2026 | 5 |
| 18 | three-factor analysis | Better Building Maintenance of the Virgin Islands, Inc. v. Lee | 16 | 2 | 2014–2025 | 2 |
| 19 | double jeopardy clause | Castillo v. People | 15 | 2 | 1979–2024 | 1 |
| 20 | Miranda warning | Miranda v. Arizona | 15 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 1 |
| 21 | Virgin Islands rule | Ahmed Shabazz v. City of Houston | 15 | 2 | 2009–2026 | 11 |
| 22 | Fourth Amendment violation | Brown v. Illinois | 13 | 2 | 1977–2025 | 2 |
| 23 | highly deferential standard | Stevens v. People | 13 | 1 | 2011–2024 | 1 |
| 24 | law of the case doctrine | Hodge v. Bluebeard's Castle, Inc. | 13 | 2 | 2009–2017 | 0 |
| 25 | hearsay rule | Lilly v. Virginia | 12 | 2 | 1977–2015 | 0 |
| 26 | plausible claim | Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly | 12 | 2 | 2011–2025 | 2 |
| 27 | Terry stop | Wong Sun v. United States | 12 | 2 | 2002–2016 | 0 |
| 28 | Brady violation | Bowry v. People | 11 | 2 | 1995–2023 | 1 |
| 29 | per se rule | Floyd v. State | 11 | 2 | 1986–2024 | 1 |
| 30 | pleading standard | Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly | 11 | 2 | 2008–2025 | 2 |
| 31 | probable cause rule | Browne v. People | 11 | 2 | 1981–2014 | 0 |
| 32 | Fifth Amendment privilege | Miranda v. Arizona | 10 | 2 | 1985–2025 | 1 |
| 33 | injunction factors | Tip Top Constructions Corp. v. Government of the Virgin Islands | 10 | 2 | 2013–2025 | 3 |
| 34 | particularly deferential standard | Smith v. People | 10 | 1 | 2009–2017 | 0 |
| 35 | sliding scale standard | Yusuf v. Hamed ex rel. Hamed | 10 | 2 | 2013–2025 | 1 |
| 36 | statute of limitations defense | 10 | 2 | 2002–2026 | 3 | |
| 37 | meritoriousness claim | Lefteri Poulis and Athena Poulis, His Wife v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company | 9 | 2 | 2006–2025 | 2 |
| 38 | plenary standard | Rivera-Moreno v. Government of the Virgin Islands | 9 | 2 | 2013–2024 | 1 |
| 39 | sounder rule | Banks v. International Rental & Leasing Corp. | 9 | 3 | 1966–2025 | 1 |
| 40 | Barker factors | Doggett v. United States | 8 | 2 | 2010–2026 | 2 |
| 41 | de novo standard | Rosenau v. Unifund Corp. | 8 | 1 | 2010–2024 | 1 |
| 42 | defamation claim | Joseph v. Daily News Publishing Co. | 8 | 2 | 1998–2026 | 2 |
| 43 | ineffective assistance of counsel claim | Strickland v. Washington | 8 | 2 | 2007–2026 | 1 |
| 44 | invited error | Williams v. People | 8 | 2 | 2012–2025 | 2 |
| 45 | laches defense | Michael J. Burke v. Gateway Clipper, Inc | 8 | 2 | 1979–2017 | 0 |
| 46 | need to correct clear error | Lazaridis v. Wehmer | 8 | 2 | 2009–2026 | 1 |
| 47 | outcome and accept principle | Conley v. Gibson | 8 | 2 | 2009–2026 | 6 |
| 48 | plain view doctrine | Coolidge v. New Hampshire | 8 | 2 | 1984–2026 | 1 |
| 49 | purpose of the notice requirement | Fallen v. United States | 8 | 2 | 1987–2026 | 6 |
| 50 | Blockburger test | Albernaz v. United States | 7 | 1 | 1997–2013 | 0 |
| 51 | case or controversy requirement | Hodge v. Bluebeard's Castle, Inc. | 7 | 2 | 2012–2017 | 0 |
| 52 | confrontation clause | United States v. Jimenez | 7 | 1 | 2010–2017 | 0 |
| 53 | granting privilege | Government of the Virgin Islands v. Don Berry | 7 | 1 | 2010–2016 | 0 |
| 54 | Halliday factors | Halliday v. Footlocker Specialty, Inc. | 7 | 1 | 2010–2025 | 1 |
| 55 | judicially created doctrine | Simpson v. Golden | 7 | 2 | 2009–2017 | 0 |
| 56 | Poulis factors | Lefteri Poulis and Athena Poulis, His Wife v. State Farm Fire and Casualty Company | 7 | 2 | 2003–2025 | 1 |
| 57 | Restatement rule | Callaway v. Whittenton | 7 | 2 | 1980–2023 | 1 |
| 58 | Sixth Amendment challenge | Smith v. Phillips | 7 | 2 | 2002–2026 | 1 |
| 59 | speedy trial violation | Barker v. Wingo | 7 | 2 | 1990–2026 | 2 |
| 60 | standing defense | Julien v. Government of the Virgin Islands | 7 | 2 | 1996–2016 | 0 |
| 61 | three Banks factors | Perez v. Ritz-Carlton (Virgin Islands), Inc. | 7 | 2 | 2014–2023 | 3 |
| 62 | accrual claim | Henry Saludes v. Evelyn Ramos, M.D., and Government of the Virgin Islands. Appeal of Government of the Virgin Islands | 6 | 2 | 1982–2014 | 0 |
| 63 | application of the discovery rule | Santiago v. Virgin Islands Housing Authority | 6 | 2 | 2002–2025 | 4 |
| 64 | cumulative error | Nicholas v. People | 6 | 1 | 2012–2013 | 0 |
| 65 | Daubert standard | Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. | 6 | 2 | 2001–2017 | 0 |
| 66 | ethical violation | In re Virgin Islands Bar Ass'n Committee | 6 | 2 | 2013–2024 | 1 |
| 67 | insufficiency of the evidence claim | Latalladi v. People | 6 | 2 | 2010–2016 | 0 |
| 68 | known right privilege | Fay v. Noia | 6 | 2 | 1979–2026 | 2 |
| 69 | minority rule | Keithley Edwards v. Born, Inc. Appeal of Keithley Edwards and Edith Edwards | 6 | 2 | 1986–2016 | 0 |
| 70 | mootness doctrine | Haynes v. Ottley | 6 | 1 | 2010–2024 | 1 |
| 71 | rational basis standard | Rogin v. Bensalem Township | 6 | 2 | 1987–2017 | 0 |
| 72 | reasonable probability error | Elizee v. People | 6 | 2 | 2009–2017 | 0 |
| 73 | res judicata doctrine | Allen v. McCurry | 6 | 1 | 1988–2017 | 0 |
| 74 | Sixth Amendment speedy trial violation | Doggett v. United States | 6 | 2 | 2010–2016 | 0 |
| 75 | sufficiency of the evidence claim | Webster v. People | 6 | 1 | 2012–2017 | 0 |
| 76 | valid basis challenge | McDonough Power Equipment, Inc. v. Greenwood | 6 | 2 | 1997–2014 | 0 |
| 77 | void-for-vagueness doctrine | Kolender v. Lawson | 6 | 2 | 1995–2015 | 0 |
| 78 | abuse of the writ doctrine | McCleskey v. Zant | 5 | 1 | 2013–2016 | 0 |
| 79 | attorney-client privilege | In Re GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION | 5 | 1 | 1990–2026 | 1 |
| 80 | bail hearing | Fountaine v. Mullen | 5 | 2 | 2006–2023 | 1 |
| 81 | cognizable claim | 5 | 2 | 1998–2026 | 1 | |
| 82 | contempt hearing | United States v. Clement v. Conole, Charles E. Anable, Richard C. Conole, Bridwell W. Lincoln, William J. Callahan and Alva M. Meyers | 5 | 2 | 2005–2026 | 1 |
| 83 | demanding standard | United States v. Sokolow | 5 | 1 | 2005–2026 | 2 |
| 84 | end analysis | Connecticut National Bank v. Germain | 5 | 2 | 2005–2016 | 0 |
| 85 | equitable tolling doctrine | Island Insteel Systems, Inc. v. Waters | 5 | 2 | 2009–2025 | 1 |
| 86 | facts constituting claim | Harley ex rel. Harley v. Government of the Virgin Islands | 5 | 2 | 1982–2024 | 1 |
| 87 | finality requirement | Richardson-Merrell Inc. v. Koller Ex Rel. Koller | 5 | 1 | 2002–2010 | 0 |
| 88 | generally accepted rule | Baker v. Baker | 5 | 2 | 1982–2025 | 1 |
| 89 | insanity defense | Nibbs v. People | 5 | 1 | 2000–2017 | 0 |
| 90 | late claim | Mercer v. Government of the Virgin Islands | 5 | 2 | 1982–2014 | 0 |
| 91 | Legislature motion | Baines v. New Hampshire Senate President | 5 | 2 | 1996–2024 | 1 |
| 92 | medical malpractice claim | Phillip v. Taylor | 5 | 1 | 1999–2026 | 1 |
| 93 | mens rea requirement | Government of Virgin Islands v. Rodriguez | 5 | 2 | 2001–2014 | 0 |
| 94 | notice pleading standard | Carrillo v. BOISE TIRE CO., INC. | 5 | 1 | 2017–2026 | 4 |
| 95 | personal privilege | Erbey Holding Corporation v. Black Rock Financial Management, Inc. | 5 | 1 | 1997–2025 | 2 |
| 96 | plausibility standard | Bell Atlantic Corp. v. Twombly | 5 | 2 | 2011–2025 | 1 |
| 97 | reviews challenge | Latalladi v. People | 5 | 1 | 2010–2012 | 0 |
| 98 | right to assert waiver | Simpson v. Golden | 5 | 2 | 2012–2024 | 3 |
| 99 | ripeness doctrine | Reno v. Catholic Social Services, Inc. | 5 | 1 | 2002–2014 | 0 |
| 100 | sequential test | Yusuf v. Hamed ex rel. Hamed | 5 | 2 | 2013–2015 | 0 |
| 101 | Stevens challenge | Stevens v. People | 5 | 2 | 2009–2012 | 0 |
| 102 | superior court committed reversible error | Latalladi v. People | 5 | 1 | 2013–2017 | 0 |
| 103 | survival claim | Der Weer v. Hess Oil Virgin Islands Corp. | 5 | 1 | 2014–2024 | 1 |
| 104 | wrongful discharge presumption | Rajbahadoorsingh v. Chase Manhattan Bank, NA. | 5 | 2 | 1994–2015 | 0 |
Top 104 by distinct citing opinions.