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 February 2025.
Featured Cases
People v. Taylor; People v. Czarnecki
Michigan Supreme Court held that mandatory life-without-parole sentences violate the state constitution’s protection against “cruel or unusual” punishment for anyone under age 21 at the time of the offense. The decision extends the court’s 2022 ruling in People v. Parks that such sentences are unconstitutional for those 18 or under.
Griffin v. State Board of Elections
A candidate for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, who lost by over 700 votes, claims that the state board of elections followed an incorrect process for registering voters and seeks in invalidate more than 60,000 votes.
N'Da v. Hybl
Nebraska Supreme Court held that statutory requirement that applicant seeking certificate to provide nonemergency medical transport must show the proposed service is required by "public convenience and necessity" does not facially violate state constitutional due process or bans on "special laws" or laws granting "special privileges and immunities." Also held that that the Nebraska Constitution's due process and equal protection clauses are coextensive with their federal equivalents, so federal rational basis review applies to substantive due process challenges to economic regulations, not the heightened standard the court had applied in a line of cases from the early 20th century.
Hardy v. Chester Arms, LLC
Held that granting statutory immunity to firearms dealers for damages suits arising from use of products by third parties did not violate state constitutional rights to equal protection and to a remedy
Siger v. City of Chester
Ruled that the statutory authority granted to receiver over financially distressed city under the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act superseded any authority granted by city's home-rule charter; the receiver's proposed initiatives were within his statutory and constitutional authority
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
King County v. Abernathy
Ruled that a right-of-way easement conveyed to railroad operator under the General Railroad Right-of-Way Act was not patented by the United States under the Washington State Constitution, so the state never disclaimed its ownership of the shoreland
State v. Santillanes
Held that the State has a constitutional right to appeal defendant's expungement order relating to a felony marijuana conviction because the order affects the State's substantial right to ensure defendants face the legal consequences of their actions
State v. Hill
Held that while New Jersey's witness tampering statute was not unconstitutionally overbroad in violation of the First Amendment or the state constitution, it may have been unconstitutional as applied to defendant because he was prosecuted for tampering based on the content of his speech
State v. Fair
Ruled that prosecution for terroristic threats premised on a mens rea of recklessness was constitutionally sufficient to satisfy both the First Amendment and state constitution's affirmative right to free speech
State v. Wilson
Held that Hawaii's Constitution does not protect an individual right to keep and bear arms and, thus, provides no state right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense.
Rand v. New Hampshire
Trial court granted partial summary judgment to plaintiffs, finding that allowing municipalities to retain property tax collections in excess of the amount required for adequate education violated state constitution
Knopp v. Griffin-Valade
Upheld secretary of state’s interpretation of ballot measure disqualifying state legislators from seeking reelection if they accrued more than ten unexcused absences as applying to the legislator’s next term of office
