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.
Scott v. Pennsylvania Board of Parole
Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled it lacked jurisdiction to hear petition for review of parole board's denial of parole applications of people serving mandatory sentences of life without parole for felony murder. Petitioners sought a declaration that application of statute denying parole to individuals serving life sentences to those convicted of felony murder was unconstitutional under state ban on cruel punishments.
State v. McKelvey
Held that a state trooper's use of telephoto lens to enhance photographs of defendant's greenhouse from aerial surveillance was a "search" under the state's search and seizure clause
Planned Parenthood v. Utah
Plaintiffs claim that abortion restrictions violate the right to determine family composition, Equal Rights Amendment, right to uniform operation of laws, right to bodily integrity and privacy, and right of conscience
Smith v. Ohio State University
Held that discretionary immunity serves as a jurisdictional bar, not an affirmative defense, to suits against the state in the Court of Claims
Mothering Justice v. Attorney General
Held that the legislature's adoption and amendment of proposed ballot initiatives in the same legislative session violated the people’s right to propose and enact laws through the initiative process. Ordered that proposals raising the minimum wage and providing earned paid sick time take effect as originally adopted, not as amended.
Owens v. Stirling
Held that execution by electrocution and firing squad are not “cruel or unusual” punishments under the state constitution
Davis v. Bissen
Held that unabandoned possessions of houseless persons constitute property and were protected by Hawaii's due process clause
State Chamber of Oklahoma v. Cobbs
Dissent would have struck down Initiative Petition 446 as a facially unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority to federal officials in direct contravention of the Court's precedent
Vazquez v. State
Held that the statute generally defining state residency governs Alaska Constitution's three-year state residency requirement for Alaska legislators
State v. Gnewuch
Held that Nebraska's deferred judgment statute did not violate the state constitution's separation of powers clause
