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."
Livingood v. City of Des Moines
Ruled that the city's use of income tax refunds to offset automated traffic citation penalties did not constitute an unconstitutional taking of plaintiffs’ income tax refunds, and the city's attempts to enforce civil penalties for automatic traffic citations did not violate vehicle owners' due process rights
Dixon v. City of Auburn
Ruled that city's short-term-rental ordinance does not violate the rights to due process or equal protection
Jackson Public School District v. Jackson Federation of Teachers & PSRPS
Dissent would have held that school district's policies restricting speech by that is critical of the district violates employees' free speech rights
State v. Daniel
Ruled that a law requiring people convicted of arson to be added to a registry did not violate separation of powers
Stevens v. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Ruled that legislature had appropriately delegated rulemaking authority over the use of familial DNA searches to Commission on Forensic Science
McKeithen v. City of Richmond
Ruled that statute’s escheat provision is unconstitutional as it allows for takings of property without compensation
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
