State Case Database
Search State Court Report's database of significant state supreme court decisions and pending cases. Download decisions and briefs for cases that develop state constitutional law. This is a selected database and does not include every state supreme court case. See methodology and "How to Use the State Case Database" for more information.
This database is updated monthly, although individual cases may be updated more frequently. Last updated comprehensively with cases decided through June 2025.
Featured Cases
Hoke County Board of Education v. State of North Carolina
The North Carolina Supreme Court overturned its own precedent and put an end to more than 30 years of litigation involving the funding of public education in the state.
Commonwealth v. Lee
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that mandating a life sentence, without the possibility of parole, for “felony murder” — a legal doctrine that allows someone to be prosecuted for murder for any death that occurs during the commission of a separate felony, even if the defendant never meant to kill anyone — violates the Pennsylvania Constitution’s ban on “cruel” punishments
Luther v. Hoskins
The Missouri Supreme Court rejected voters' challenge to Missouri's new congressional district map, which the plaintiffs said ran afoul of state constitutional prohibitions on mid-decade redistricting. The court said the state constitution contained no express prohibition on mid-decade redistricting and that the map was a "valid exercise" of the "plenary legislative power to establish congressional districts."
Commonwealth v. Sweeting-Bailey
Dissents wrote that majority's view that police reasonably suspected that the defendant was armed based on companion’s behavior allows for encroachment on right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. v. The City of Cleveland
Ruled a municipal utility may acquire excess electricity capacity without violating the constitution so long as the acquisition was not for the sole purpose of reselling it
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Degraffenreid
Enjoined the tabulating and certifying of votes on victim’s rights ballot question, ruled amendment violated constitution’s separate vote requirement
The Detroit News, Inc. v. Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
Ruled redistricting commission’s closed-session meeting and withholding of memoranda requested by news organizations violated open meetings and publication of supporting materials requirements
State v. Stephens
Ruled statute violated separation of powers clause because it delegated authority to the Attorney General to prosecute election laws, a power more properly assigned to the judicial department
Calcasieu Parish School Board Sales v. Nelson Industrial Steam Co.
Ruled legislation excluding certain transactions from sales tax was a new tax and violated Tax Limitation clause for failure to garner a supermajority vote in legislature
Dunleavy v. Alaska Legislative Council ex rel. Alaska State Legislature
Ruled that laws defining legislative inaction as tantamount to rejection, in the context of appointments and confirmations, violate the state constitution
State v. Bowman
Ruled that a cell phone owner’s voluntary consent to search text messages justifies intruding on an otherwise private affair
Wash. State Legislature v. Inslee
Ruled that the governor exceeded his veto power by striking a single sentence in an appropriate bill
Commonwealth v. Dejesus
Abolished separate standing requirement and ruled a defendant need only show a reasonable expectation of privacy in a place searched to contest search and seizure
