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
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authority granted to receiver over financially distressed city under the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act superseded any authority granted by city's home-rule charter; the receiver's proposed initiatives were within his statutory and constitutional authority
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
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
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.
Zurawski v. Texas
Held that the language in state abortion laws allowing abortions when the life of the mother is threatened is adequate to protect the health of the patient and constitutional. Plaintiffs claimed prohibition on abortions in the case of medical emergencies would violate the due course of law clause and guarantees of equal rights and privileges and equality based on sex.
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
