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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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Reflections on the Supreme Court’s Decision Upholding a Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Trans Youth
We spoke with a transgender rights advocate about U.S. v. Skrmetti’s impact on trans people and what’s next in the struggle for equal rights.
Georgia Supreme Court Allows Under-21 Handgun Carry Ban
The court looked to the state’s own constitutional history rather than following recent U.S. Supreme Court gun decisions.
New York’s First Constitution Was a Reaction to British Rule
The constitution, which served as a model for parts of the U.S. Constitution, adopted many policies of the English legal system.
Virginia’s Constitution: An Influential and Resurgent Declaration of Rights
The state’s supreme court has recently interpreted the constitution to provide stronger protections for rights than are guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in June
Issues on the dockets include partisan gerrymandering, fines and fees imposed on indigent defendants, and bans on flavored tobacco and online vision tests.
State Courthouses in the ICE Age
The Trump administration’s actions signal a sea change in immigration enforcement and a broader assault on state and local governments.
The Ohio Constitution: Its History and Its Future
Recent amendments, and fights against them, demonstrate the importance of the state constitution.
Honoring Former Hawaii Justice Masaji Marumoto’s Legacy on the Bench
A look at Marumoto’s trailblazing career, in celebration of May’s Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander (AANHPI) Heritage Month.