Search
Filter Search
Phillips v. State (Formerly Blackmon v. State)
Plaintiffs, including patients who allege they were denied, or received delayed, medically necessary abortion care due to doctors' confusion regarding the scope of the medical necessity exception in the state's abortion ban, challenge that exception as violating state constitutional rights to life and equal protection and as unconstitutionally vague.
Stewart v. Rosenblum
Illinois Supreme Court held statutes providing for pretrial release did not unduly infringe any inherent judicial authority to indefinitely detain pretrial a defendant who repeatedly failed to appear.
Hawaii v. Zuffante
Hawaii Supreme Court held state due process clause requires law enforcement to record in-station custodial interrogations and, when feasible, out-of-station, as a necessary procedural safeguard for multiple rights, including to a fair trial.
Luther v. Hoskins
Voters challenge Missouri's new congressional district map arguing the state constitution prohibits mid-decade redistricting.
Wise v. State
Voters challenge the state's new congressional district map arguing it violates the state constitution's prohibition on mid-decade congressional redistricting, compactness and contiguity requirements, and equal protection clause.
2025 Ballot Measures to Watch
Voters will decide whether to amend their state constitutions or statutes regarding redistricting, voting, firearm access, parental rights, taxes, and more.
Tran v. Commonwealth
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held former state senator was not immune from criminal charges that he used his official position to secure unwarranted privileges by utilizing his senate staff for reelection campaign activities, under the state constitution's clause granting legislative privilege for deliberation and debate and under separation of powers principles.
Comprehensive Health of Planned Parenthood Great Plains and Planned Parenthood Great Rivers v. State of Missouri
Asking the court to declare unconstitutional and block enforcement of Missouri’s ban on abortion, its ban on the use of telemedicine for abortion, the 72-hour waiting period for the procedure, and multiple other restrictive abortion-related laws.
Katherine Steefel
Katherine Steefel is an Assistant Professor of the Practice of Law at the University of Denver’s Sturm College of Law.
The Extra Hurdle in State Courts to Prove a Statute Violates the U.S. Constitution
Many states require a litigant challenging a statute as violating the U.S. Constitution to prove the statute is unconstitutional “beyond a reasonable doubt.”
