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."
Boyd v. State
Held that the state's education funding and property taxation system did not violate the education, proportional contribution, or common benefits clauses of the constitution
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
