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 August 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 found 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"
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
State v. Wright
Held that a warrantless search of a citizen's trash left out for collection violates the state constitution
Edwards v. Thomas
Held that the Child Passenger Protection Act does not violate the separation of powers doctrine of the state constitution
State v. Recall Dunleavy
Ruled recall committee exercising constitutional right to recall governor submitted legally and factually sufficient allegations to Division of Elections to certify application
State v. Bemer
Ruled statute permitting court to order defendant to submit to exam for sexually transmitted diseases based only on having been charged with a sexual act offense violated right to be free from unreasonable searches
McLaughlin v. Montana State Legislature
Ruled that legislative subpoenas for the production of Court Administrator's devices used to facilitate polling of state judges and emails exceed the scope of legislative authority
State v. Andujar
Ruled that implicit or unconscious racial bias in jury selection process, not just purposeful discrimination, may violate constitutional right to trial by fair and impartial jury
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
State v. Galvin
Ruled Division of Elections' omission of party nominee’s nonpartisan voter affiliation on ballot did not violate nominee’s constitutional right of political association
