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 2024.
Featured Cases
Genser v. Butler County Board of Elections
Held citizens whose mail-in ballots were disqualified for a failure to return them in the required secrecy envelope have a right to cast a provisional ballot and have it count.
Cincinnati Enquirer v. Bloom
Found the blanket sealing of a juvenile’s delinquency records when the juvenile is found not delinquent — the juvenile equivalent of not guilty — unconstitutional because there was no determination that the harm to the juvenile outweighed the public’s right to access court records
Gonzalez v. Miller
Unanimously affirmed the denial of a district attorney’s effort to dismiss a state Open Records Act request relating to her office’s “failure . . . to effectively prosecute criminal cases, and an open disregard for the laws of the State of Georgia"
Zurawski v. Texas
Held that the language in state abortion laws allowing abortions when the life of the mother is threatened is adequate to protect the health of the patient and constitutional. Plaintiffs claimed prohibition on abortions in the case of medical emergencies would violate the due course of law clause and guarantees of equal rights and privileges and equality based on sex.
Becerra v. State
Ruled that the presence of an alternate juror during a petit jury's deliberations did not violate the state constitutional right to a jury composed of twelve people; however, the alternate juror's participation in jury deliberations was impermissible and violated provision in the code of criminal procedure
Neptune Swimming Foundation v. City of Scottsdale
Ruled that the City of Scottsdale did not violate the state's gift clause when it awarded an operating license to plaintiff swim club's competitor at below-market rates
Forward Montana v. State
Held that plaintiffs were entitled to attorney's fees for challenging two statutory provisions relating to campaign activities and judicial recusal, added to state's campaign finance bill, that would have violated the state constitution's single subject rule and rule on amendments
City of Laramie v. University of Wyoming
Held that the University of Wyoming had common-law sovereign immunity from city's attempt to enforce restrictive deed covenant pertaining to its drilling and operation of two wells for watering university's landscaping including golf course; and the city's other constitutional and statutory challenges against the university should also be dismissed
Cao v. PFP Dorsey Investments
Held that a forced sale of a condominium as required by a contract and within the bounds of the state Condominium Act did not violate the state constitution's eminent domain provision.
Fossella v. Adams
Struck down a New York City law that would have allowed non-citizens to vote in municipal elections
Owens v. People
Upheld a conviction in a high-profile murder case, where the defendant, Sir Mario Owens, appealed based on many alleged errors, including racial bias in jury selection.
Planned Parenthood of Arizona v. Hazelrigg
Declared 160-year-old near-total ban on abortion enforceable, but stayed its decision while lower court considers additional arguments about the law's constitutionality
Faatz v. Ashcroft
Affirmed an appeals court ruling that the Missouri Senate redistricting plan met constitutional requirements.
