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 April 2024.
Featured Cases
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc, et al. v. Kim Reynolds, et al.
The Iowa Supreme Court held that abortion is not a fundamental right under the state constitution and is only subject to rational basis review. The court reversed a lower court injunction halting the state's "fetal heartbeat" law.
Texas v. Loe
The Texas Supreme Court refused to block a ban on certain medical treatments for transgender minors, saying the state legislature had a rational basis for passing the law and that it does not improperly infringe on the rights of parents to make medical decisions for the children or on physicians’ abilities to treat patients. The court also said the law does not constitute sex discrimination and declined to treat transgender people as a protected class.
Drummond v. Statewide Virtual Charter Schoolboard
Ruled that the state education board’s approval of a Catholic school's application to be a public charter school violated the Oklahoma Constitution, the federal Establishment Clause, and the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act
State v. Graham
Ruled prosecutor’s specific argument that defendant tailored their testimony in response to the testimony other witnesses provided at trial did not violate defendant's right to confrontation
AFSCME v. State
Ruled that statute converting state employees to at-will did not infringe on constitutional contract rights or right to bargain collectively
Short v. State
Ruled executive branch’s sweep of unappropriated state general funds, including funds for educational grants, into a reserve fund did not violate legislature’s appropriation powers
State v. Warren
Ruled reinstatement of a complaint despite defendant’s lack of counsel at reinstatement hearing violated right to counsel, as hearing was a critical stage of criminal proceedings
State v. Mefford
Ruled parole officer’s warrantless search of defendant’s cell phone apps exceeded any valid exception, violating searches and seizures and right to privacy clauses
Burns v. Arizona Public Service Co.
Ruled majority of commissioners of public utilities commission may not prevent an individual commissioner from exercising constitutionally granted investigatory powers
State ex rel. Office of the State Engineer v. Romero
Ruled groundwater forfeiture statute allowed for partial forfeiture of petitioner’s water rights for nonuse and was consistent with constitution’s beneficial use doctrine
State ex rel. Sanduskians for Sandusky v. The City of Sandusky
Mandated city commission submit proposed city charter amendment to a special election, but commission is not constitutionally required to place proposal on general election ballot
Eddie Armstrong & Lance Huey v. Thurston
Ruled statute permitting State Board of Election Commissioners discretion to certify ballot initiative to Secretary of State conflicted with constitution’s initiative clause
Ritter v. State
Ruled statutes requiring governor to declare a state of emergency before school districts may make decisions regarding local health matters were an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority