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Civil Rights
State constitutions guarantee equality, freedom from discrimination, fair treatment under the law, and a broad range of other civil rights. Issues that regularly crop up in state court include discrimination on the basis of race, ethnicity, national origin, sex, sexual orientation or identity, age, or disability, abuses of power by government actors, as well as the availability of monetary damages for such state constitutional violations.
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Voters Amend State Constitutions Around the Country
Ohio enshrined a right to abortion in the state constitution.
The Contentious History Behind New York City’s Right to Shelter
New York State’s high court has yet to define the scope of the right to shelter, which comes from a Depression-era amendment to the state constitution.
A Brief History of Colorado’s Constitution
Colorado’s constitutional history provides an ambivalent promise of human rights and social equality.
How Texas Law Lets the State Get Around Injunctions
An unusual state court procedure allows the attorney general to undo trial court rulings just by filing an appeal.
The Supreme Court and the States
This term, the justices considered cases with widely varying outcomes and major implications for state courts.
Challenging Anti-Trans Legislation Under State Constitutions
Though advocates have found early success in federal courts, they may find even more effective ways to protect LGBTQ+ rights through state courts.
Giving Meaning to Georgia’s ‘Social Status’ Clause
A recent case considered a unique and underappreciated state constitutional provision.
Getting Racial Bias Off the Jury
Washington innovates on peremptory strikes.