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 February 2025.
Featured Cases
People v. Taylor; People v. Czarnecki
Michigan Supreme Court held that mandatory life-without-parole sentences violate the state constitution’s protection against “cruel or unusual” punishment for anyone under age 21 at the time of the offense. The decision extends the court’s 2022 ruling in People v. Parks that such sentences are unconstitutional for those 18 or under.
Griffin v. State Board of Elections
A candidate for a seat on the North Carolina Supreme Court, who lost by over 700 votes, claims that the state board of elections followed an incorrect process for registering voters and seeks in invalidate more than 60,000 votes.
N'Da v. Hybl
Nebraska Supreme Court held that statutory requirement that applicant seeking certificate to provide nonemergency medical transport must show the proposed service is required by "public convenience and necessity" does not facially violate state constitutional due process or bans on "special laws" or laws granting "special privileges and immunities." Also held that that the Nebraska Constitution's due process and equal protection clauses are coextensive with their federal equivalents, so federal rational basis review applies to substantive due process challenges to economic regulations, not the heightened standard the court had applied in a line of cases from the early 20th century.
Willis v. Bernini
Ruled state’s failure to present clearly exculpatory evidence to the grand jury relevant to 3rd-party defense justification violated defendant’s constitutional due process rights
State v. The Alaska Legislative Council
Ruled legislature’s education appropriation from a future fiscal year’s budget violates constitution’s budgetary clauses’ implied requirement that funds be appropriated annually
State v. Donovan
Ruling police seizure of defendant violated constitutional right to be free from unreasonable seizures when they had no articulable, reasonable suspicion to justify seizure
Zolly v. City of Oakland
Ruled city's fees for private waste hauling contracts were not exempt from constitution's voter approval requirement for imposition of taxes
Brunson v. State
Concurred to deny post-conviction relief petition as meritless but restricting defendant's future filings in forma pauperis violated constitutional right to access to courts
Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation v. Commonwealth
Ruled statute diverting public land trust funds to General Assembly does not facially violate constitution's Environmental Rights Amendment
People v. Stovall
Ruled parolable life sentence for defendant who committed 2nd degree murder while a juvenile constitutes cruel or unusual punishment violating Michigan Constitution
State v. Gray
Ruled Oregon Constitution’s right to counsel provision allows defendant to have counsel present in grand jury room for consultation during defendant’s testimony
Bauserman v. Unemployment Insurance Agency
Ruled money damages available for constitutional tort claims unless enforcement of relevant constitutional right is delegated to another branch of government
State v. Graham
Ruled constitution’s guarantee of victims’ right to be heard at sentencing does not authorize police testimony on behalf of victims as relevant victim impact evidence
