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."
State v. Mikell
Held that when prosecution dismisses and later refiles charges, the period between dismissal and refiling need not be considered for purposes of defendant's right to a speedy trial
People v. Bochenek
Ruled that statute setting venue for identity theft cases in the place where the victim resides does not violate right to jury trial where the crime is alleged to have been committed
State v. Dortch
Dissent wrote that applying preservation requirement to defendant whose guilty plea was accepted without a competency hearing after trial court questioned his competency would deny his right to a meaningful appeal
Hrbek v. State
Ruled that the omnibus crime bill did not violate separation of powers principles, and that in post-conviction relief there is no constitutional right to hybrid representation
People v. Bass
Concurrences would have addressed whether under Illinois' "limited lockstep" approach the state constitution provides greater protections than the Fourth Amendment
Butler v. Watson
Ruled that clause requiring distribution of ballot initiative signatures across the state's five congressional districts was rendered inoperable by reduction in number of state's congressional districts
Barnett v. Jones
Ruled that local law dictating how proceeds distributed to a county should be allocated is constitutional because no existing general law provides for the same matter
Bayou Bridge Pipeline, LLC v. 38.00 Acres
Ruled that takings clause requiring compensation to the full extent of landowner's loss provides authority for award of attorney fees and litigation costs
Lowther v. Town of Bastrop
Ruled that municipality is constitutionally mandated to satisfy court order to pay back wages to firefighters by clause excepting fire minimum wages from overall constitutional limitation on unfunded mandates
McCarty v. Arkansas State Plant Board
Ruled statute permitting private entities to appoint members to a governmental board was an unconstitutional delegation of legislative appointment power
