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
Saunders v. Mississippi
Held that portions of a bill restructuring the judiciary in Hinds County violated constitution's requirement that circuit judges be elected
State v. Bell
Ruled that the a police officer may not make a warrantless arrest for a DUI committed outside the officer’s presence
People v. Regan
Held that four-year delay in filing an indictment violated defendant’s due process right to prompt prosecution
Caulkins v. Pritzker
Ruled that state ban on assault weapons with exemptions did not deny equal protection or amount to unconstitutional special legislation
State v. Benton
Ruled that a possible confidential informant was a state agent when questioning defendant, thus violating defendant's right to counsel
State v. Johnson
Overruled precedent that permitted defendants in camera review of victim’s medical records, in part because of new victim’s rights constitutional provision
State v. Rivers
Declined to hold that there is greater protection of the right to a jury drawn from fair cross section of the community under the state constitution than the federal constitution
Chevron U.S.A. v. Monterey County
Struck down local ordinance prohibiting coastal oil drilling and fracking activities as preempted by state law
State v. Watson
Held that first-time in-court identifications can be conducted only if there is “good reason”
Draper v. Gentry
Held that defendants are permitted discovery from victims if defendant seeks evidence of “constitutional dimension” and the requested discovery is “very likely” to contain such evidence
