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
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authority granted to receiver over financially distressed city under the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act superseded any authority granted by city's home-rule charter; the receiver's proposed initiatives were within his statutory and constitutional authority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.
Planned Parenthood of Michigan v. Attorney General of the State of Michigan
Trial court permanently enjoined enforcement of a 1931 Michigan law criminalizing all abortions except those performed to save the mother's life, holding that the law violates abortion patients' fundamental right to bodily integrity under the state due process clause, as well as state equal protection.
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
