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 May 2025.
Featured Cases
Access Independent Health Services v. Wrigley
North Dakota Supreme Court upheld state's abortion ban despite three of five justices concluding a health-risk exception was unconstitutionally vague, because the state constitution requires four justices to declare legislation unconstitutional
Clarke v. Town of Newburgh
New York Court of Appeals held local government could not assert state or federal equal protection challenge to the vote dilution provision of the state's Voting Rights Act
League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Utah Supreme Court sent partisan gerrymandering case back to lower court to consider whether the legislature violated voters' fundamental right to "reform or alter" their government when it overturned redistricting reforms passed by initiative. Lower court found legislators violated that right and struck the current congressional map, adopting an alternative proposed by the plaintiffs
Cao v. PFP Dorsey Investments
Held that a forced sale of a condominium as required by a contract and within the bounds of the state Condominium Act did not violate the state constitution's eminent domain provision.
Forward Montana v. State
Held that plaintiffs were entitled to attorney's fees for challenging two statutory provisions relating to campaign activities and judicial recusal, added to state's campaign finance bill, that would have violated the state constitution's single subject rule and rule on amendments
City of Laramie v. University of Wyoming
Held that the University of Wyoming had common-law sovereign immunity from city's attempt to enforce restrictive deed covenant pertaining to its drilling and operation of two wells for watering university's landscaping including golf course; and the city's other constitutional and statutory challenges against the university should also be dismissed
Planned Parenthood of Michigan v. Attorney General of the State of Michigan
Trial court permanently enjoined enforcement of a 1931 Michigan law criminalizing all abortions except those performed to save the mother's life, holding that the law violates abortion patients' fundamental right to bodily integrity under the state due process clause, as well as state equal protection.
Hensley v. State Commission on Judicial Conduct
Plaintiff justice of the peace claims that sanctioning her for refusing to officiate same-sex marriages on account of her Christian faith violated her free speech rights
The Reverend Traci Blackmon v. Missouri
Plaintiffs claim that abortion ban and other restrictions violate the state constitution's protections for religious freedom
Owens v. People
Upheld a conviction in a high-profile murder case, where the defendant, Sir Mario Owens, appealed based on many alleged errors, including racial bias in jury selection.
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.
Faatz v. Ashcroft
Affirmed an appeals court ruling that the Missouri Senate redistricting plan met constitutional requirements.
LePage v. Center for Reproductive Medicine
Held that wrongful death statute applies to embryos stored as part of IVF procedure
