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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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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.
An Eventful Summer for State Constitutional Abortion Rights Litigation
State supreme courts addressed abortion rights head on, even as the U.S. Supreme Court punted on similar questions.
What the Framers Really Thought About Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness
Debates from state constitutional conventions show delegates expected protections for inalienable rights to have teeth.
States in ‘Lockstep’ with the Fourth Amendment May Not Be Locked
Some states have handcuffed their citizens’ constitutional search and seizure protections to the federal standard — but they still hold the keys to going their own way.
Who Can Challenge State Abortion Bans? It’s Not So Clear Cut.
Since the U.S. Supreme Court prevented abortion providers from challenging restrictions on abortions, several states have indicated they’ll adopt the same stance on standing.
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.
Missouri Attorney General Clashes with Prosecutor Trying to Exonerate Man on Death Row
Marcellus Williams is set to be executed in September, but the prosecutor says he was wrongfully convicted.