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.
Statler v. State
Ruled statute proscribing sexual battery as a general intent crime not requiring defendant’s knowledge as to complainant’s nonconsent is constitutional under due process clause
State v. Thompson
Ruled police’s continued seizure of defendant’s cell phone without a warrant was not reasonably necessary to its investigation and violated unreasonable search and seizure protections
State v. Graham
Ruled prosecutor’s specific argument that defendant tailored their testimony in response to the testimony other witnesses provided at trial did not violate defendant's right to confrontation
Short v. State
Ruled executive branch’s sweep of unappropriated state general funds, including funds for educational grants, into a reserve fund did not violate legislature’s appropriation powers
Burns v. Arizona Public Service Co.
Ruled majority of commissioners of public utilities commission may not prevent an individual commissioner from exercising constitutionally granted investigatory powers
State v. Mefford
Ruled parole officer’s warrantless search of defendant’s cell phone apps exceeded any valid exception, violating searches and seizures and right to privacy clauses
State ex rel. Office of the State Engineer v. Romero
Ruled groundwater forfeiture statute allowed for partial forfeiture of petitioner’s water rights for nonuse and was consistent with constitution’s beneficial use doctrine
Department of Corrections v. Stefano
Held that a person released from prison on electronic monitoring has due process rights implicated when they are removed from electronic monitoring and returned to prison
State ex rel. Sanduskians for Sandusky v. The City of Sandusky
Mandated city commission submit proposed city charter amendment to a special election, but commission is not constitutionally required to place proposal on general election ballot
Eddie Armstrong & Lance Huey v. Thurston
Ruled statute permitting State Board of Election Commissioners discretion to certify ballot initiative to Secretary of State conflicted with constitution’s initiative clause
