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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.
Filters
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.
Confederate Monuments and State Constitutions
Courts considering removal of Confederate monuments have ignored southern states’ Reconstruction-era commitments to maintaining national unity and respecting racial equality.
Iowa Supreme Court Allows Six-Week Abortion Ban to Take Effect
The court’s stance on reproductive health has shifted dramatically since 2018, when it held that abortion was a fundamental right under the state constitution.
Texas Supreme Court Refuses to Block Ban on Certain Medical Care for Trans Minors
The court said the ban does not infringe on parents’ right to choose medical care for their children.
Texas Supreme Court to Hear Arguments Over Ban on Gender-Affirming Care for Transgender Minors
Families of transgender children are asking the court to reinstate a temporary injunction blocking the ban.