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 January 2025.
Featured Cases
Vet Voice Foundation v. Hobbs
Washington Supreme Court held requirement that election workers verify voter signatures on mail ballots, when coupled with the state’s recently expanded process for notifying voters and providing an opportunity to cure when a signature mismatch is identified, does not facially violate the state constitution’s free and equal elections, privileges and immunities, or due process clause.
SisterSong v. Georgia
Plaintiffs claim that abortion ban violates the state constitution’s right to liberty and privacy and guarantee of equal protection
Texas v. Margaret Daley Carpenter
Texas’s attorney general sued a New York doctor for mailing abortion-including drugs to a woman in Texas, claiming she practiced medicine in Texas without a Texas license and improperly aided an abortion. After the doctor did not respond to the complaint, a Texas trial court issued a default judgment enjoining her from prescribing abortion-inducing drugs to state residents and imposing $100,000 in civil penalties, as sought by the attorney general.
Mothering Justice v. Attorney General
Held that the legislature's adoption and amendment of proposed ballot initiatives in the same legislative session violated the people’s right to propose and enact laws through the initiative process. Ordered that proposals raising the minimum wage and providing earned paid sick time take effect as originally adopted, not as amended.
Owens v. Stirling
Held that execution by electrocution and firing squad are not “cruel or unusual” punishments under the state constitution
I.S. v. State
Held that a statute requiring prosecutor's written approval as a prerequisite to dismissal and referral to informal supervision if juvenile was charged with offense that, if committed by adult, would constitute felony or gross misdemeanor, did not violate separation of powers
Alliance Housing Incorporated v. County of Hennepin
Held that for the purposes of qualifying for tax exemption, an institution of purely public charity with a purpose of providing housing for low-income individuals uses its real property in furtherance of its charitable purpose when it leases its property to its intended beneficiaries for personal residence
Bienvenu v. Defendant 1
Held that statute, which retroactively revived certain prescribed child sex abuse claims for limited three-year period, conflicted with state constitutional substantive due process protection against disturbing vested rights
State v. Gibbons
Ruled that a statute imposing a mandatory minimum $5,000 fine without regard to a criminal defendant's ability to pay was facially unconstitutional in violation of Montana's proportionality requirement and the Excessive Fines and Fees Clause
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc. v. Hilgers
Held that a bill containing restrictions on abortion and gender-affirming for minors care did not violate the state constitution's prohibition on bills that contain more than one subject because both issues relate to regulating healthcare.
Office of the State of Public Defender v. Bonta
Plaintiffs, a group of civil right and legal organizations, challenge the legality of the California death penalty statute, claiming it is racially discriminatory and violates the state constitution.
City of Dallas v. Employees Retirement Fund of City of Dallas
Held that a city cannot delegate to a third party the perpetual right to veto changes in a city ordinance under art. 11 section 5 of the Texas Constitution
Board of Education v. Cabell County Public Library
Ruled that the restoration of equalization payments from the county board of education, pursuant to Special Acts, violated equal protection insofar as the payments required that funding district and library to be part of the county board of education's excess levy proposal
