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."
People v. Stovall
Ruled parolable life sentence for defendant who committed 2nd degree murder while a juvenile constitutes cruel or unusual punishment violating Michigan Constitution
State v. Gray
Ruled Oregon Constitution’s right to counsel provision allows defendant to have counsel present in grand jury room for consultation during defendant’s testimony
Bauserman v. Unemployment Insurance Agency
Ruled money damages available for constitutional tort claims unless enforcement of relevant constitutional right is delegated to another branch of government
State v. Graham
Ruled constitution’s guarantee of victims’ right to be heard at sentencing does not authorize police testimony on behalf of victims as relevant victim impact evidence
Kirk v. State
Concurred to deny post-conviction relief petition as meritless but restricting defendant's future filings in forma pauperis violated constitutional right to access to courts
In re State
Dissent wrote that statute requiring governor to submit report to Executive Council did not violate governor’s authority or separation of powers
Commonwealth v. Jones-Williams
Dissent would have held that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in medical records, one that protects those records from warrantless governmental inspection.
Khalil v. Williams
Concurrence would have overturned precedent barring post-settlement legal malpractice suits absent fraud as inconsistent with open court remedies clause provision of constitution
Neiman v. LaRose
Ruled Ohio Redistricting Commission plan violates Ohio Constitution as it unduly favors Republican Party and unduly disfavors Democratic Party and is therefore invalid
Texas Department of State Health Services v. Crown Distributing LLC
Ruled that constitution's due-course clause does not protect companies’ asserted interest in manufacturing or processing smokable hemp products