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 May 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
City of Bloomington Board of Zoning Appeals v. UJ-Eighty Corp.
Ruled that zoning ordinance that defined fraternities and sororities based on their relationship with university was not an unconstitutional delegation of zoning authority to the university
State v. Misch
Ruled that right to bear arms clause protects a limited right to self-defense, and statute banning large-capacity magazines is a reasonable exercise of the state's police power
People v. Gordon
Ruled that to search vehicles located outside defendant's residence, search and seizure clause requires that a warrant refer to the vehicles with particularity
Clark Fork Coalition v. Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation
Ruled that statute providing for only limited review of surface water degradation risk before issuance of water use permit did not violate right to a clean and healthful environment
Grisham v. Romero
Ruled that Secretary of Health's emergency order restricting indoor dining was not an unconstitutional exercise of legislative powers in the context of the public health crisis
Fay v. Merrill
Ruled governor’s executive order to add Covid-19 as a new reason for requesting an absentee ballot did not violate constitution’s absentee ballot clause
State v. Lee
Ruled that evidence of a separate, independent crime after an illegal entry should not have been suppressed under constitution's search and seizure clause
Schires v. Carlat
Ruled city’s payment of public funds to induce private university to open branch campus violated gift clause where funds were disproportionate to the bargained-for benefits from university
State ex rel. Dickey v. Besler
Ruled that challenge to governor's appointment of a judge as untimely was nonjusticiable as the only other official with appointment power, the chief justice, accepted the appointment
State v. Thompson
Ruled that statute, as applied to prohibit a represented party from filing pro se supplemental briefs on appeal, does not violate separation of powers doctrine
