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.
Montana Democratic Party v. Jacobsen
Held unconstitutional laws eliminating election day registration and limiting acceptable forms of identification for voting
Mellowitz v. Ball State University
Upheld law prohibiting class actions against postsecondary educational institutions to recover losses stemming from Covid-19
People v. Debellis
Ruled that defense counsel was ineffective for failing to request charge on the only defense supported by the trial testimony
People v. Rodriguez
Held that a bicycle stop is a seizure and that police may not initiate encounters with bicyclists absent reasonable suspicion of crime or probable cause of traffic violation
State v. Oldenburg
Held that statute permitting trial court to seal criminal records violates separation of powers by impinging supreme court’s rulemaking power
Vlaming v. West Point School Board
Allowed teacher to proceed with claim that refusal to use a student's preferred pronouns is protected by the teacher's free-exercise rights
Cruz-Guzman v. State
Held that claims of racial imbalances in public education do not need to establish state action caused the racial imbalances
State v. Harrell
Ruled that the right to an impartial jury does not guarantee a criminal defendant a specific number of peremptory challenges
Hoffmann v. New York State Independent Redistricting Commission
Ordered the independent redistricting commission to reconvene to redraw the state's congressional districts to replace court-drawn map
Bennett v. United States
Held that statute of repose barring medical malpractice claims after eight years violated privileges and immunities clause and access to justice guarantees
