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
State v. Watson
Held that first-time in-court identifications can be conducted only if there is “good reason”
Draper v. Gentry
Held that defendants are permitted discovery from victims if defendant seeks evidence of “constitutional dimension” and the requested discovery is “very likely” to contain such evidence
People v. Posey
Held that law requiring appellate courts to affirm all criminal sentences fitting within the legislature's sentencing guidelines violated the right to appeal
Planned Parenthood v. South Carolina
Held that abortion ban does not violate the constitution’s right to privacy or guarantees of equal protection or due process
Mt. Clemens Recreational Bowl v. Director of the Department of Health & Human Services
Held that pandemic orders shutting food-service establishments did not constitute a takings
June Medical Services v. Landry
Plaintiffs claim that abortion bans violate the state constitution’s guarantee of due process and prohibition on unlawful delegation of legislative authority
State v. Hacker
Ruled that law requiring indefinite sentences for certain offenses, with minimum and maximum prison terms, does not violate constitution's separation of powers, jury right, or due process clauses
State v. Bell
Ruled that COVID-19-related exclusion of spectators from courtroom, with broadcast in adjacent room, was a closure implicating defendant's constitutional right to a public trial
State v. Boyer
Ruled that search freely consented to by minor third-party, who had common authority over the premises, satisfies search and seizure clause
Rowe v. Raoul
Ruled that pretrial release laws abolishing monetary bail do not violate constitution's bail, crime victims' rights, or separation of powers clauses
