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."
Cooper v. Berger
Held that law transferring governor’s authority to appoint members on the state elections board to the legislature infringed on governor's appointment authority
Arlington Heights Pension Fund v. Pritzker
Held that the ability to vote in elections for local pension board members and to have local board members control and invest pension funds are not constitutionally protected
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
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)
