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."
Native Village of Kwinhagak v. State, Department of Health & Social Services
Held that both the State's delay in notifying other parties to “child in need of aid” case of child's admission to hospital, as well as the 46-day delay between the child's hospitalization and the hearing on whether such hospitalization was justified, violated procedural due process
In re Noem
Held that the contract clause of the state constitution prohibits a legislator, or former legislator within one year following the expiration of the legislator's term, from being interested, directly or indirectly, in contracts that are authorized by laws passed during the legislator's term, but does not categorically prohibit all contracts between legislators and the State
BABE VOTE v. McGrane
Held that laws prohibiting the use of student IDs for voting purposes did not violate the state constitution
Becerra v. State
Ruled that the presence of an alternate juror during a petit jury's deliberations did not violate the state constitutional right to a jury composed of twelve people; however, the alternate juror's participation in jury deliberations was impermissible and violated provision in the code of criminal procedure
Neptune Swimming Foundation v. City of Scottsdale
Ruled that the City of Scottsdale did not violate the state's gift clause when it awarded an operating license to plaintiff swim club's competitor at below-market rates
Cao v. PFP Dorsey Investments
Held that a forced sale of a condominium as required by a contract and within the bounds of the state Condominium Act did not violate the state constitution's eminent domain provision.
Forward Montana v. State
Held that plaintiffs were entitled to attorney's fees for challenging two statutory provisions relating to campaign activities and judicial recusal, added to state's campaign finance bill, that would have violated the state constitution's single subject rule and rule on amendments
City of Laramie v. University of Wyoming
Held that the University of Wyoming had common-law sovereign immunity from city's attempt to enforce restrictive deed covenant pertaining to its drilling and operation of two wells for watering university's landscaping including golf course; and the city's other constitutional and statutory challenges against the university should also be dismissed
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.
Hensley v. State Commission on Judicial Conduct
Plaintiff justice of the peace claims that sanctioning her for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages on account of her Christian faith violated her free speech rights
