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 April 2024.
Featured Cases
Texas v. Loe
The Texas Supreme Court refused to block a ban on certain medical treatments for transgender minors, saying the state legislature had a rational basis for passing the law and that it does not improperly infringe on the rights of parents to make medical decisions for the children or on physicians’ abilities to treat patients. The court also said the law does not constitute sex discrimination and declined to treat transgender people as a protected class.
Planned Parenthood of the Heartland, Inc, et al. v. Kim Reynolds, et al.
The Iowa Supreme Court held that abortion is not a fundamental right under the state constitution and is only subject to rational basis review. The court reversed a lower court injunction halting the state's "fetal heartbeat" law.
Drummond v. Statewide Virtual Charter Schoolboard
Ruled that the state education board’s approval of a Catholic school's application to be a public charter school violated the Oklahoma Constitution, the federal Establishment Clause, and the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act
In re Goldston
Ruled family court judge’s presence at party’s home to look for marital property was an improper search under prohibition against judicial officers exercising the executive search power
State ex rel. Suwalski v. Peeler
Ruled that application for relief from federal firearms disability after conviction for domestic violence implicated crime victim’s rights under the constitution
State v. Peterson
Dissent wrote that statute criminalizing sale of heroin violated equal protection clause because the same conduct is criminalized under another controlled substance statute which carries a different penalty
Dunleavy v. Alaska Legislative Council ex rel. Alaska State Legislature
Ruled that laws defining legislative inaction as tantamount to rejection, in the context of appointments and confirmations, violate the state constitution
State v. Brown
Ruled statute authorizing judge, not jury, to make criminal history findings for sentencing did not violate right to a jury trial; statute allowing judge to set restitution implicated the right but was severable
State v. Bowman
Ruled that a cell phone owner’s voluntary consent to search text messages justifies intruding on an otherwise private affair
Wash. State Legislature v. Inslee
Ruled that the governor exceeded his veto power by striking a single sentence in an appropriate bill
State v. Jordan
Dissent wrote that warrantless arrest of defendant when police had ample time to secure a warrant violated constitution’s protection against unreasonable search and seizure
League of Women Voters of Honolulu v. State
Ruled legislature’s replacement of a recidivism bill with a hurricane shelter bill violated constitution’s requirement of three readings to begin anew because the amendment was non-germane
In re Colorado Independent Congressional Redistricting Commission
Ruled constitutional provision for congressional redistricting process did not create new protections against minority vote dilution beyond those provided by the federal Voting Rights Act