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.
Lovell v. Raffensperger
Dismissed lawsuit challenging the state's electronic voting machine system because the plaintiffs' did not satisfy constitution's requirements for naming defendants
Bingham v. Gourley
Court will decide if the four-year statute of repose on medical malpractice claims is unconstitutional under the state and federal constitution.
Iowa Individual Health Benefit Reinsurance Association v. State University of Iowa
Ruled that the statutes requiring state universities to join nonprofit health benefit reinsurance corporation did not violate constitutional prohibition on state acting as a surety for another
Sitka Tribe of Alaska v. State
Held that constitution does not require the Department of Fish and Game to provide all relevant information to the Board of Fisheries as it determines fishery policy
Everhart v. Coshocton County Memorial Hospital
Dissent would have held that prohibiting wrongful death suits because the statute of repose runs before the patient dies violates the constitution's open courts provision
Belser v. Blount County
Held that whether the legislature conducted its internal voting proceedings in compliance with the state constitution is a nonjusticiable political question
Kell v. State
Ruled that defendant failed to demonstrate that dismissing a petition for post-conviction relief filed five years after the discovery of the evidence violates the state constitution
State v. Wilcox
Held that seizure of defendant’s backpack, incident to seizure of the defendant under non-criminal public intoxication law, was an administrative seizure
Commonwealth v. Mattis
Held that life without parole sentences are unconstitutional as applied to emerging adults (ages 18-20)
Deo v. Parish
Held that state courts have subject matter jurisdiction in criminal cases against an indigenous person in “Indian Country” and defendants must object based on personal and territorial jurisdiction
