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."
State v. Soto
Ruled that potential statements made by court personnel to jurors in an elevator constituted improper contact violating defendant's right to an impartial jury
State v. Hassan
Holding that a mandatory sentence of life without parole is not unconstitutionally cruel when imposed on a 21-year-old defendant who has been convicted of first-degree premeditated murder
Doe v. Madison Metropolitan School District
Dissent would have granted parents' request to enjoin school policy on gender-identity and decide if it interferes with parents' right to educate and raise their children
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc. v. Reynolds ex rel. State
Held that there is no fundamental right to abortion under the state constitution, overruling 2018 decision
Richard v. Speaker of the House of Representatives
Ruled no due process right to public legislative hearing on citizen's remonstrance where there is no constitutional mandate to assemble legislature to hear remonstrances
Commonwealth v. Reed
Concurrence would have clarified that state constitution provides greater protections than the Fourth Amendment
City of Olathe v. City of Spring Hill
Held that home-rule amendment to the Kansas Constitution does not abrogate the rule that a City Council cannot bind a future City Council to its policy decisions
Johnson v. State
Dissent would have held that order restricting petitioner’s future filings in forma pauperis violated constitutional right to access the courts
State v. Mascareno-Haidle
Ruled that, for pretrial detention, even if state shows dangerousness of the defendant, it is required to also prove that no conditions of release would reasonably protect the safety of the community
Salt Lake City Corp. v. Utah Inland Port Authority
Ruled statute’s inland port zoning provisions treating certain municipalities disparately had a legitimate legislative purpose
