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 February 2025.
Featured Cases
LeMieux v. Evers
The Wisconsin Supreme Court will address the scope of Gov. Tony Evers’s state constitutional authority to approve spending bills passed by the legislature only “in part,” by line-item vetoing other parts.
People v. Taylor; People v. Czarnecki
Michigan Supreme Court held that mandatory life-without-parole sentences violate the state constitution’s protection against “cruel or unusual” punishment for anyone under age 21 at the time of the offense. The decision extends the court’s 2022 ruling in People v. Parks that such sentences are unconstitutional for those 18 or under.
N'Da v. Hybl
Nebraska Supreme Court held that statutory requirement that applicant seeking certificate to provide nonemergency medical transport must show the proposed service is required by "public convenience and necessity" does not facially violate state constitutional due process or bans on "special laws" or laws granting "special privileges and immunities." Also held that that the Nebraska Constitution's due process and equal protection clauses are coextensive with their federal equivalents, so federal rational basis review applies to substantive due process challenges to economic regulations, not the heightened standard the court had applied in a line of cases from the early 20th century.
Wrigley v. Romanick
Ruled that state constitution provides a fundamental right to receive life and health preserving abortions
State v. Hewitt
Held that Miranda warnings are required by state constitution when probable cause to arrest has developed
State v. SASS Group
Held that, under sovereign immunity constitutional amendment, a lawsuit must be dismissed if it names defendants other than the state or local governments specifically authorized by that provision
State ex rel. Ware v. Parikh
Dissent would have ruled that right to access public records is a substantive right that the court lacks authority to abridge through its constitutional rulemaking power
Ohana v. Univiversity of Hawai'i
Held that government has affirmative duty during rulemaking to enforce constitution’s Native Hawaiian traditional and customary rights provision
State v. Smart
Ruled that circumstances giving rising to probable cause were not unforeseeable and spontaneous, thus police did not meet the automobile exception to justify a warrantless search of a car
Barron v. Kolenda
Ruled town’s public comment policy requiring remarks be respectful and courteous at town meetings was unconstitutional and violated right to assembly and right to free speech
Wilson v. City of St. Louis
Ruled that provisions of a state parking statute creating duties for municipal officers violated the constitutional prohibition against certain laws affecting charter cities
GM Berkshire Hills LLC v. Berks County Board of Assessment
Ruled that the school district's selective real estate tax assessment appeals did not violate the Uniformity Clause of the constitution when the district chose only recently sold properties for appeal
The Lilith Fund for Reproductive Equity v. Dickson
Ruled that statements allegedly defaming abortions rights group were protected opinion about abortion law made in pursuit of changing that law, and were protected speech
