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 April 2025.
Featured Cases
Access Independent Health Services v. Wrigley
North Dakota Supreme Court upheld state's abortion ban despite three of five justices concluding a health-risk exception was unconstitutionally vague, because the state constitution requires four justices to declare legislation unconstitutional
Clarke v. Town of Newburgh
New York Court of Appeals held local government could not assert state or federal equal protection challenge to the vote dilution provision of the state's Voting Rights Act
League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Utah Supreme Court sent partisan gerrymandering case back to lower court to consider whether the legislature violated voters' fundamental right to "reform or alter" their government when it overturned redistricting reforms passed by initiative. Lower court found legislators violated that right and struck the current congressional map, adopting an alternative proposed by the plaintiffs
Z.W.E. v. L.B. (Ex parte Z.W.E.)
Concurrence would have ruled that parentage statute’s definition of “child” should be interpreted to include unborn children as constitution specifically protects their rights
In re Humphrey
Ruled equal protection and substantive due process require court to consider financial ability to post bail and whether less restrictive alternatives to detention could satisfy government’s interests
Reagan v. Idaho Transportation Department
Ruled that statute authorizing warrantless arrest for driving under the influence, even if the officer did not witness the offense, violates protection against unreasonable searches and seizures
Hamen v. Hamlin County
Ruled that damage caused by law enforcement during an arrest is not a taking under the state constitution
Ortiz v. State
Concurrence wrote that prosecution's summation argument that the defendant tailored his testimony after listening to the evidence at trial violates the defendant's right to be present at trial
Gomersall v. St. Luke's Regional Medican Center, Ltd.
Ruled that statute governing time limitation for minor children to bring professional malpractice actions did not violate due process, equal protection, or right to access courts
Markwell v. Cooke
Ruled unintelligible sounds generated by computers to read simultaneously portions of a bill on Senate floor violated constitution’s reading requirement
Siebert v. Okun
Ruled that cap on damages in medical malpractice statute did not violate right to trial by jury because the damages cap did not invade the fact-finding province of the jury
Duke v. State
Dissent wrote that if a defendant declines representation by a public defender, due process and right to counsel do not obligate indigent defense agency to provide funding for ancillary defense services
Thurston v. Safe Surgery Arkansas
Upheld preliminary injunction enjoining statute’s background check requirements on paid canvassers as unconstitutionally impairing initiative and referendum rights
