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 March 2025.
Featured Cases
Republican National Committee v. Eternal Vigilance Action, Inc; Georgia v. Eternal Vigilance Action
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled invalid under state nondelegation principles four of seven rules passed by the Georgia State Election board, while upholding one rule. The court did not decide the validity of two other rules, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the provisions.
Planned Parenthood of Montana v. State (Planned Parenthood 1)
Montana Supreme Court held that a 20-week abortion ban; restrictions on medication abortions, including a telehealth ban and 24-hour waiting period; and requirement that providers give patients an opportunity to view an ultrasound and listen to a fetal heartbeat violate the express right to privacy in the state constitution.
Care and Prevention of Eve
Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court held that department of children and families violated the state constitution's free exercise of religion protection when it vaccinated a child temporarily in its custody over the religious objections of her parents. Parents who have temporarily lost custody of their children retain a residual right to direct their religious upbringing, and the state must demonstrate that allowing the child to remain unvaccinated would substantially hinder the department’s compelling interest in the vaccination.
State v. Hoyle
Wisconsin Supreme Court reversed Court of Appeals's grant of new trial, finding that prosecutor did not unlawfully comment on defendant's exercise of his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent. On remand, Court of Appeals rejected defendant's other bases for overturning his conviction, finding no reasonable probability that newly discovered evidence would have changed the jury's verdict and evidence the prosecution did not disclose to be immaterial. The Wisconsin high court denied defendant's subsequent petition for review.
Watson Memorial Spiritual Temple of Christ v. Korban
Ruled that mandamus was an appropriate vehicle for landowners to collect from the city's sewerage and water board inverse-condemnation damages awarded in prior suit
Singleton v. North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
A doctor is challenging a law that requires healthcare providers to obtain a “certificate of need” before offering new services or facilities in a geographic area
Stefanik v. Hochul
Upheld New York's universal early mail voting law. The state high court disagreed that a state constitutional clause expressly authorizing absentee voting for specific categories of people should be interpreted to prevent mail-in voting by all others, based on the presumption of constitutionality for state laws, the constitutional history, and another clause allowing the legislature to authorize the "method" of elections.
Johnson v. Wyoming
Plaintiffs claim that abortion ban violates the fundamental right to be left alone by government as guaranteed by several rights enshrined in the state constitution
In re Dallas County
Upheld, in a unanimous opinion, a 2023 law creating a new court of appeals that has exclusive statewide jurisdiction over intermediate appeals in most matters brought against the state and challenges to a state law’s constitutionality when the attorney general is a party.
People v. Neilly
Held that defendants who are convicted but have been given reprieve from life-without-parole sentences because their crimes were committed as teenagers can still be required to pay restitution costs.
Borgelt v. Austin Firefighters Association
Held that provision of collective bargaining agreement authorizing union members to conduct certain union-related activities does not violate the state constitution's Gift Clause
State v. Bauler
Plurality holds that the state constitution's search and seizure provision was not violated when a K-9 handler and his trained canine momentarily made contact with the exterior of a vehicle during a dog sniff
Askew v. City of Kinston
Held that plaintiffs bringing direct actions under the state constitution are not required to exhaust administrative remedies before filing suit.
