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 June 2025.
Featured Cases
Commonwealth v. Lee
The Pennsylvania Supreme Court held that mandating a life sentence, without the possibility of parole, for “felony murder” — a legal doctrine that allows someone to be prosecuted for murder for any death that occurs during the commission of a separate felony, even if the defendant never meant to kill anyone — violates the Pennsylvania Constitution’s ban on “cruel” punishments
Luther v. Hoskins
The Missouri Supreme Court rejected voters' challenge to Missouri's new congressional district map, which the plaintiffs said ran afoul of state constitutional prohibitions on mid-decade redistricting. The court said the state constitution contained no express prohibition on mid-decade redistricting and that the map was a "valid exercise" of the "plenary legislative power to establish congressional districts."
League of Women Voters of Missouri v. State
The Missouri Supreme Court permanently enjoined criminal penalties for third-party voter registration and voter-engagement activities, upholding a lower court decision that the restrictions were unconstitutionally vague and violated free speech and association rights
Sagoonick v. State of Alaska II
Alaska Supreme Court will consider whether law requiring the state to develop a natural gas project violates youth plaintiffs' rights to equal access and sustained yield of public trust resources and to a climate system that sustains human life
Gun Owners of America v. City of Philadelphia
Pennsylvania Supreme Court will consider whether a state law regulating firearms preempts Philadelphia's ban on ghost guns and whether a claim the ban violates the state constitutional right to bear arms was waived
Commonwealth v. Council for Better Education; LaFontaine v. Council for Better Education
Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that a law providing for charter schools funds education outside the “system of common schools,” in violation of clauses requiring the legislature to establish such a system and voters to approve such funding
Rand v. New Hampshire
New Hampshire Supreme Court held that statewide property tax scheme that allows a locality to retain tax revenue in excess of what the district needs to fund an adequate education does not violate requirement that state taxes be "uniform in rate;" additional claim related to adequacy of school funding is pending on appeal
Montanans for Nonpartisan Courts v. Knudsen
Montana Supreme Court rejected Attorney General's proposed ballot statement for ballot initiative enshrining nonpartisan judicial elections in the state's constitution
Nicholson v. State
Missouri Supreme Court held that addition of a provision allowing the attorney general to immediately appeal preliminary injunctions against the state during the enactment of a 2025 statute, altered the bill's original purpose to modify judicial review of ballot measure language
City of Kalispell v. Doman
Montana Supreme Court affirmed obstruction conviction for defendant arrested for failing to comply with police’s orders to move away from a traffic stop he was filming on his phone
Franklin v. Martinez
New Mexico Supreme Court declined to hold incarcerated people have a protected property interest in acquiring property through the corrections agency's inmate property policy, under inherent rights and due process clauses
League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Utah Supreme Court dismissed legislators' appeal from trial court ruling that struck the state's congressional map. Lower court said law the map was enacted under violated a fundamental right of voters to alter or reform their government — recognized by the Utah high court earlier in the case — by repealing a redistricting-reform initiative, and subsequently adopted plaintiffs' proposed alternative map
