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"
Stevens v. New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Ruled that legislature had appropriately delegated rulemaking authority over the use of familial DNA searches to Commission on Forensic Science
Johnson v. Wisconsin Elections Commission
Ruled redistricting disputes can only be judicially resolved to remedy a cognizable right and partisan gerrymandering claims are not cognizable under the state constitution
McKeithen v. City of Richmond
Ruled that statute’s escheat provision is unconstitutional as it allows for takings of property without compensation
State v. Reed
Ruled that police officers were required to advise defendant of her Miranda rights before questioning her in probation officer's office, which constituted "compelling circumstances"
McEwen v. Lee
Plaintiffs claim Tennessee's voucher program unlawfully diverts public education funds to private schools, undermining public schools' budgets and violating the state constitution's provisions for equitable education and local autonomy.
Torres v. Jai Dining Services
Held that clause prohibiting abrogation of right to recover damages from injuries does not extend to actions first recognized after that clause was adopted
Fitz-James v. Ashcroft
Ruled that the descriptions of six ballot initiative petitions to amend the state constitution to protect abortion rights were “insufficient and unfair.”
State v. Kizer
Ruled that residents are entitled to a trial by jury when the government seeks to confiscate their property through civil forfeiture process
Arkansas Department of Education v. Jackson
Held that emergency clause in legislation complied with constitution's procedural requirements
State ex rel. Candelaria v. Grisham
Ruled that the legislative branch controlled the funds disbursed to the state under the federal American Rescue Plan Act because the law left significant discretion to the states
