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.
Myers v. Reno Cab Co.
Ruled that employee status for constitutional minimum wage amendment is determined by totality of circumstances, and provision entitling aggrieved employees to all available remedies only applies to claims under the amendment.
People v. Washington
Ruled that trial court lacked jurisdiction when it resentenced defendant pursuant to intermediate appellate court's order while defendant's appeal was pending in state supreme court
Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government v. State
Ruled that state payments to school districts are included in total state spending for purposes of constitutional spending requirements, but charter schools are not school districts for purposes of the amendment
Odyssey 2020 Academy, Inc. v. Galveston Central Appraisal District
Ruled that the state constitution does not permit a property tax exemption for a charter school
James v. Heinrich
Held that pandemic order restricting or prohibiting in-person instruction violated right to free exercise of religion
Velazquez v. University Physician Associates
Dissent wrote that statute capping non-economic damages for statutory medical malpractice cause of action violates constitutional right to trial by jury
Doyle v. Tidball
Ruled that because voter-initiated amendment expanding Medicaid does not expressly appropriate money, such amendment does not violate constitutional prohibition against appropriation by initiative
Smith v. Isakson
Ruled that courts must look to offense's historical nature and the severity of the penalty to determine whether right to jury trial was preserved for the crime
Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation v. Commonwealth
Ruled that statutes diverting to the state's general fund revenue generated from oil and gas leases on state lands violate clause placing the state's natural resources in public trust
Carrigan v. New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services
Ruled that taxpayers standing to seek declaration that the state misspent public funds only extends to discrete governmental spending action, not overall allocation of resources
