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.
Thourtman v. Junior
Held that, despite right to pretrial release, a court may detain a defendant without setting release conditions to first conduct a hearing to determine the defendant's eligibility for release
State v. Poe
Held that right to restitution for crime victims does not confer standing on victims to seek or renew orders of restitution in criminal cases when the state declines to do so
Dutchess v. Dutch
Ruled granting decision-making authority to father regarding vaccinating children did not violate mother’s constitutional rights to free exercise of religion or due process
Advocates for School Trust Lands v. State
Held that statute relinquishing the state's ownership of certain water rights did not violate the state's constitutional trustee duties
Moynihan v. Lynch
Held that a statute requiring that parties to a palimony agreement obtain counsel before signing the contract violates substantive due process
In re Senate Joint Resolution of Legislative Apportionment 100
Upheld legislative district apportionment plan as satisfying constitution's redistricting provisions
State v. Elwell
Concurrence wrote that an officer must have immediate, apparent knowledge that there is incriminating evidence before them to satisfy the plain view exception for warrantless searches
Zab v. Rhode Island Department of Corrections
Held unconstitutional a civil death statute which barred civil claims by anyone incarcerated under a life sentence
In re Opinion of the Justices
Advisory opinion interpreting the governor's constitutional authority to remove state officers
State v. Basquin
Held that supervisory orders allowing written, as opposed to in-person, pleas during the Covid-19 pandemic, did not violate due process or separation of powers
