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
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”
Burroughs v. State
Ruled that the constitutional right to bail permits the attachment of unaffordable financial conditions to a dangerous defendant's pretrial release
State v. Teulilo
Upheld "community caretaking exception" to warrant requirment despite recent federal Fourth Amendment decisions
Robertson v. Commonwealth
Ruled that Marsy's Law allowed victims to be present in the courtroom prior to their testimony and there is no right to separation of witnesses
State v. Avoletta
Ruled that law extending the time for filing claims for poor air quality in schools was a private benefit violating the public emoluments clause
Valley Health System v. Murray
Ruled that the constitution allows both the governor and chief justice to designate substitutes for disqualified justices on the supreme court
State v. Kollie
Held that the right to a public trial was not violated when the court held bench conferences within view of the public
