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Civil Due Process
State constitutions generally protect both procedural and substantive due process rights. Many state constitutions also include rights to access the courts. State courts review a broad range of civil due process questions, including claims of inadequate procedures in civil and administrative proceedings, questions about standing and the right to a jury in civil matters, fundamental rights claims rooted in substantive due process, and claims about unfair procedures or inadequate access to justice.
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Pennsylvania Supreme Court Upholds Laws Barring Cities from Passing Gun Safety Regulations
The case raised state constitutional challenges to laws giving the legislature sole authority over gun regulation.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in December
Issues on the dockets include school funding, protection of children in foster care, and the death penalty.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in September
Issues on the dockets include climate change, redistricting, and lawsuits by victims of child sexual abuse.
Scholarship Roundup: September 2024 Back to School Edition
New articles and books cover a wide range of topics related to state constitutions, judiciaries, state-level democracy, and more.
Maryland Supreme Court Affirms Crime Victims’ Rights in Adnan Syed Murder Case
The 2000 conviction in the high-profile case was reinstated but Syed remains free pending a new hearing.
State Accountability for Abuse in Foster Care
Children who suffer sexual, physical, and other abuses while in the state’s custody face significant hurdles when they seek justice.
The State Constitutional Rights to Bear Arms After Rahimi
The U.S. Supreme Court’s holding that the disarmament of a domestic abuser was not unconstitutional could incentivize gun-rights advocates to bring their claims in state court.
Why Are State Constitutional Challenges to Inhumane Prison Conditions So Rare?
Weak federal protections present an opportunity for state supreme courts to apply their states’ bans on cruel punishment to prison conditions.