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."
People v. Washington
Ruled that trial court lacked jurisdiction when it resentenced defendant pursuant to intermediate appellate court's order while defendant's appeal was pending in state supreme court
Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government v. State
Ruled that state payments to school districts are included in total state spending for purposes of constitutional spending requirements, but charter schools are not school districts for purposes of the amendment
Velazquez v. University Physician Associates
Dissent wrote that statute capping non-economic damages for statutory medical malpractice cause of action violates constitutional right to trial by jury
Doyle v. Tidball
Ruled that because voter-initiated amendment expanding Medicaid does not expressly appropriate money, such amendment does not violate constitutional prohibition against appropriation by initiative
Smith v. Isakson
Ruled that courts must look to offense's historical nature and the severity of the penalty to determine whether right to jury trial was preserved for the crime
Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation v. Commonwealth
Ruled that statutes diverting to the state's general fund revenue generated from oil and gas leases on state lands violate clause placing the state's natural resources in public trust
Carrigan v. New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services
Ruled that taxpayers' standing to seek declaration that the state misspent public funds only extends to discrete governmental spending action, not overall allocation of resources
State v. Wright
Held that a warrantless search of a citizen's trash left out for collection violates the state constitution
Edwards v. Thomas
Held that the Child Passenger Protection Act does not violate the separation of powers doctrine of the state constitution
State v. Recall Dunleavy
Ruled recall committee exercising constitutional right to recall governor submitted legally and factually sufficient allegations to Division of Elections to certify application
