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. Gray
Ruled Oregon Constitution’s right to counsel provision allows defendant to have counsel present in grand jury room for consultation during defendant’s testimony
Bauserman v. Unemployment Insurance Agency
Ruled money damages available for constitutional tort claims unless enforcement of relevant constitutional right is delegated to another branch of government
State v. Graham
Ruled constitution’s guarantee of victims’ right to be heard at sentencing does not authorize police testimony on behalf of victims as relevant victim impact evidence
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.
Kirk v. State
Concurred to deny post-conviction relief petition as meritless but restricting defendant's future filings in forma pauperis violated constitutional right to access to courts
In re State
Dissent wrote that statute requiring governor to submit report to Executive Council did not violate governor’s authority or separation of powers
Commonwealth v. Jones-Williams
Dissent would have held that there is a reasonable expectation of privacy in medical records, one that protects those records from warrantless governmental inspection.
Khalil v. Williams
Concurrence would have overturned precedent barring post-settlement legal malpractice suits absent fraud as inconsistent with open court remedies clause provision of constitution
Neiman v. LaRose
Ruled Ohio Redistricting Commission plan violates Ohio Constitution as it unduly favors Republican Party and unduly disfavors Democratic Party and is therefore invalid
State v. Hassan
Holding that a mandatory sentence of life without parole is not unconstitutionally cruel when imposed on a 21-year-old defendant who has been convicted of first-degree premeditated murder