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.
Aparicio v. State
Held that, for purposes of victims' rights clause, victim impact letters are limited to persons who had been directly and proximately harmed by the crime
In re Williams
Ruled that state’s cruel punishment clause provides greater protection than the Eighth Amendment, and that petitioner was deprived of basic hygiene in confinement in violation of the constitution
State v. Randall
Concurrence wrote that police dog’s intrusion into car during a traffic stop was an illegal search, as using an exterior car sniff by a dog is a search under the state constitution
People v. McDaniel
Ruled that the state constitution does not require unanimity in jury's determination of disputed aggravating circumstances
Laws v. Grayeyes
Concurrence wrote that Utah's separation of powers provision would not prevent the legislature from granting standing to a plaintiff and questions applying federal standing rules
In re Abbott
Ruled that the state constitution empowers the House of Representatives to compel the attendance of absent members
State v. Melvin
Ruled that acquitted conduct may not be considered in sentencing defendants under state constitution’s heightened due process rights and right to a criminal trial by jury
Brooks v. Ewing Cole, Inc.
Ruled pretrial decision denying a government defendant’s right to a sovereign immunity defense in a negligence action was an immediately appealable collateral order
Pinckney v. Peeler
Ruled that statute removing confederate flag from capital and renaming other historic items did not violate prohibition on special laws or home rule provision, but severed provision requiring a supermajority to amend the law
Fay v. Fox
Ruled victim has right to be heard on merits of defendant’s motion for a delayed appeal of restitution award under due process, prompt restitution, and finality provisions of Victims’ Bill of Rights
