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
State v. $2,435 in United States Currency
Held that right to a jury trial in a civil case applies to actions seeking to confiscate money under civil forfeiture statute
Latino Action Network v. New Jersey
Held that public education system was segregated within districts but did not find statewide segregation
Brown v. Secretary of State
Held that a partisan gerrymandering claim raises a nonjusticiable political question
Tallahassee v. Florida Police Benevolent Association
Held that Marsy’s Law does not allow a victim, including police officers, the categorical right to withhold their name from disclosure
In Re: Prosecuting Attorneys Qualifications Commission Rules and Code of Conduct
Declined to approve proposed rules written by a new politically appointed body to investigate, discipline, and remove elected prosecutors
Police Benevolent Association v. City of New York
Held that law making it a misdemeanor for police officers to restrain an arrestee in a manner that impedes their breathing is not impermissibly vague
Harris County v. Texas
Plaintiff claimed that state law that abolishes Harris County election administrator violates ban on local or special laws about certain subjects
Wisconsin Property Taxpayers, Inc. v. Town of Buchanan
Concurrence would have held that the fee structure implemented by the Town of Buchanan's Transportation Utility Fee violated the Uniformity Clause of the Wisconsin Constitution
City of St. Louis v. State
Held that Senate Bill No. 26, which in part sought to add statutory procedures for imposing discipline on law enforcement officers, violated the Hancock Amendment to the Missouri Constitution
State v. Cohen
Held that automobile exception to warrant requirement does not allow for search of the trunk or engine compartment based only on the smell of marijuana from inside the car
