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 2024.
Featured Cases
Genser v. Butler County Board of Elections
Held citizens whose mail-in ballots were disqualified for a failure to return them in the required secrecy envelope have a right to cast a provisional ballot and have it count.
Cincinnati Enquirer v. Bloom
Found the blanket sealing of a juvenile’s delinquency records when the juvenile is found not delinquent — the juvenile equivalent of not guilty — unconstitutional because there was no determination that the harm to the juvenile outweighed the public’s right to access court records
Gonzalez v. Miller
Unanimously affirmed the denial of a district attorney’s effort to dismiss a state Open Records Act request relating to her office’s “failure . . . to effectively prosecute criminal cases, and an open disregard for the laws of the State of Georgia"
State v. Reeves
Held that once a defendant has waived their self-representation right by proceeding to trial with counsel, the trial court may deny a later request for self-representation
Detroit Caucus v. Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
Ruled that congressional and legislative district reapportionment plans adopted by independent commission satisfy the state constitution's redistricting provisions
Matter of Congressional Districts by New Jersey Redistricting Commission
Upheld congressional district reapportionment plan as meeting state and federal equal protection and due process requirements
State v. Reed
Ruled attorney’s fees are recoverable as restitution only when attorney is reasonably necessary to assist victim in exercising rights in a criminal case
Sagoonick v. State
Dismissed equal protection, substantive due process, and public trust rights claims that state energy policies violate individual fundamental right to Alaska’s natural resources and a stable climate
Durst v. Idaho Commission for Reapportionment
Determined that legislative reapportionment plan did not unreasonably divide counties as the state constitution prohibits
League of Women Voters of Michigan v. Secretary of State
Held a geographic distribution requirement for petition signatures was unconstitutional, but allowing a checkbox indicating whether the petition circulator was paid or volunteer
International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 50 v. The City of Peoria
Held a local ordinance exceeded the city's home rule authority when it defined terms in a state law inconsistently with how the state supreme court had previously construed those terms
State v. Carr
Upheld death sentence as not violating right to life and jury trial rights under state constitution
Department of Administration v. Retired Public Employees of Alaska, Inc.
Ruled retired state employee option to purchase dental insurance is a benefit constitutionally protected from diminishment
