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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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What’s at Stake in the 2024 Ohio Supreme Court Elections
The outcome of the races for three seats on the high court could impact Ohio law on abortion, voting rights, gun regulations, and more.
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in May
Issues on the dockets include limits on a reform-minded prosecutor, automatic life sentences for late adolescents, and a ban on misgendering LGBTQ+ senior citizens.
State Constitutional Protections for Transgender People After Skrmetti
A review of recent litigation in state courts provides hints about the future of trans rights.
Abortion and Trans Rights Advocates Turn to Unlikely Tool in State Constitutions
Lawsuits seeking to expand access to abortion and gender-affirming care rely on GOP-backed “health-care freedom" provisions passed to limit the Affordable Care Act.
The Florida Constitution: For the People?
Citizen support for constitutional amendments has been undermined by the legislature’s interpretation of those initiatives.
ICE’s New Courthouse Arrest Policy Set Them on a Collision Course with State Courts
The arrest of a Wisconsin judge comes after ICE walked back policies designed to ensure communities wouldn’t be afraid to access courts
Lawsuits Allege Unlawful Surveillance of Pregnant Patients
According to the allegations, hospitals and state agencies in New Jersey and Vermont violated rights to privacy and bodily autonomy by drug testing and monitoring pregnant people.
An Ohio Court Strikes Down Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Minors
Citing the state’s health care freedom amendment, the court ruled that Ohio’s restrictions on transgender youth care violate the state constitution.