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 February 2025.
Featured Cases
LeMieux v. Evers
The Wisconsin Supreme Court held, in a divided decision, that the governor did not exceed his partial veto authority under the state constitution when he altered digits, words, and punctuation in a budget bill to extend a school funding increase from 2 to 402 years.
Griffin v. State Board of Elections
A candidate for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, who lost by over 700 votes, claims that the state board of elections followed an incorrect process for registering voters and seeks in invalidate more than 60,000 votes.
People v. Taylor; People v. Czarnecki
Michigan Supreme Court held that mandatory life-without-parole sentences violate the state constitution’s protection against “cruel or unusual” punishment for anyone under age 21 at the time of the offense. The decision extends the court’s 2022 ruling in People v. Parks that such sentences are unconstitutional for those 18 or under.
State v. Reed
Ruled that police officers were required to advise defendant of her Miranda rights before questioning her in probation officer's office, which constituted "compelling circumstances"
Torres v. Jai Dining Services
Held that clause prohibiting abrogation of right to recover damages from injuries does not extend to actions first recognized after that clause was adopted
Fitz-James v. Ashcroft
Ruled that the descriptions of six ballot initiative petitions to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights were “insufficient and unfair.”
State v. Kizer
Ruled that residents are entitled to a trial by jury when the government seeks to confiscate their property through civil forfeiture process
Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission
Ruled redistricting disputes can only be judicially resolved to remedy a cognizable right and partisan gerrymandering claims are not cognizable under the state constitution
Arkansas Department of Education v. Jackson
Held that emergency clause in legislation complied with constitution's procedural requirements
State ex rel. Candelaria v. Grisham
Ruled that the legislative branch controlled the funds disbursed to the state under the federal American Rescue Plan Act because the law left significant discretion to the states
Tidwell v. Blaine County
Dismissed land use case for lack of standing, dissent argued that court should not use federal standing doctrine when state constitution has distinct language
In re: Legislator Interest in State Contracts
Governor seeks an advisory opinion clarifying the breadth of the constitutional prohibition on state legislators having an interest in a state contract
Byrd v. State
Held that a section of a law criminalizing homelessness in a bill about county financial statements violated single-subject requirements
