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 June 2025.
Featured Cases
League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Utah Supreme Court dismissed legislators' appeal from trial court ruling that struck the state's congressional map. Lower court said law the map was enacted under violated a fundamental right of voters to alter or reform their government — recognized by the Utah high court earlier in the case — by repealing a redistricting-reform initiative, and subsequently adopted plaintiffs' proposed alternative map
Commonwealth v. Council for Better Education; LaFontaine v. Council for Better Education
Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that a law providing for charter schools funds education outside the “system of common schools,” in violation of clauses requiring the legislature to establish such a system and voters to approve such funding
McDougle v. Nardo
Virginia Supreme Court permitted legislature's proposed amendment to redraw the state’s congressional map to proceed to a vote, while it considers appeal of trial court decision finding the legislative process unconstitutional
State v. Lee
Ruled that the separation of powers prohibits the judicial branch from exercising pardon power by granting clemency to defendants
Wahkiakum School District No. 200 v. State
Ruled that capital construction costs are not included within the category of education costs for which the state must make ample provision
State v. Ayon
Ruled that a district court judge presiding over a preliminary hearing has no authority to decide whether evidence was obtained from an unconstitutional search or seizure
Clark v. State
Held that when a defendant alleges ineffective assistance of counsel based on counsel's failure to object to an overnight noncommunication order, a presumption of prejudice is warranted
Ohio Organizing Collaborative v. Ohio Redistricting Commission
Held that legislative districts violated new constitutional provisions prohibiting partisan gerrymandering
Grisham v. Van Soelen
Held that partisan gerrymandering claims are justiciable and gave guidance to lower courts resolving such a claim
In re Opinion of the Justices
Held that constitution authorized legislature to adopt into law several proposed ballot measures without change
ARKK Properties, LLC v. Cameron
Held that statute permitting officials sued for alleged constitutional violations to compel transfer of the suit to another randomly-selected circuit court violates separation of powers
Anderson v. Clarke
Virginia Supreme Court affirmed denial of habeas petition claiming state Department of Corrections wrongly interpreted a budget provision related to sentencing credits, violating ex post facto and due process clauses
State v. Hinman
Ruled that retroactive application of amended Sexual or Violent Offender Registration Act violated prohibition against ex post facto punishment because law is “punitive in nature”
