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 August 2025.
Featured Cases
McDougle v. Scott
Virginia Supreme Court, in a split decision, nullified a constitutional amendment approved by voters that would have redrawn the state's congressional districts, finding the legislative process used for the amendment violated the state constitution
Hoke County Board of Education v. State of North Carolina
The North Carolina Supreme Court overturned its own precedent and put an end to more than 30 years of litigation involving the funding of public education in the state
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
Parker v. Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife
Held that law prohibiting Sunday hunting does not violate recently enacted right to food amendment
Washington v. Cline
Held that a man who sought damages via a direct constitutional claim for being denied a speedy trial was not eligible for any remedy because such claims are available only if there is no other existing remedy.
League of Women Voters of Kansas v. Schwab
Held that voting was not a fundamental right under the state constitution's Bill of Rights, but a political right grounded elsewhere in the constitution.
Planned Parenthood v. Utah
Plaintiffs claim that abortion restrictions violate the right to determine family composition, Equal Rights Amendment, right to uniform operation of laws, right to bodily integrity and privacy, and right of conscience
Worrell v. Desantis
Denied an elected Florida state attorney’s bid to be reinstated after she was removed from office by Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, an act she, a Democrat, said was politically motivated. The court said DeSantis was within his constitutionally-conferred rights to suspend her for what he alleged was neglect of her duties. A dissenting opinion in the case said the prosecutor was not given time to mount a meaningful defense and expressed need for careful examination of a suspension in the case where the constitution “in effect authorizes the governor to override the will of the majority of voters who elected the official and to appoint a replacement of the governor’s choosing.”
Tricoast Builders, Inc. v. Fonnegra
Ruled that the plaintiff was required to establish prejudice in order to prevail on appeal on their claim regarding the trial court's alleged error in declining to conduct a jury trial
Owens v. Stirling
Held that execution by electrocution and firing squad are not “cruel or unusual” punishments under the state constitution
Minnesota v. Malecha
Held that, under the state constitution, prosecutors could not rely on evidence collected after police officers arrested a person based on a warrant they didn’t know had been quashed.
Smith v. Iowa District Court for Polk County
Held that the Iowa Constitution contains a legislative privilege that protects legislators from compelled document production
Commonwealth v. Shepherd
Held that the state's right to equal protection did not require the retroactive application of a new rule requiring proof of actual malice for felony murder
