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.
Cegavske v. Hollowood
Ruled statute providing withdrawal process for initiative petitions was a constitutional exercise of legislative power to facilitate people’s initiative power
Fine v. Ward (In re Titles)
Ruled proposed ballot initiatives for selling wine at grocery stores and home delivery of alcohol by third parties were insufficiently related in violation of constitution’s single subject rule
Landowners v. South Central Regional Airport Agency
Ruled earlier county board of supervisors’ agreement with two cities to create a joint airport authority unconstitutionally bound the current board in its exercise of legislative functions and delegation of powers
State ex rel. Demora v. LaRose
Mandated, despite new compressed electoral calendar, that Secretary of State and county boards of elections accept original declarations of candidacy and petitions if candidates otherwise qualify
Abbott v. Mexican American Legislative Caucus
Dismissed, for lack of standing, claims that reapportionment violated constitutional timeline and county-line rule, but remanded to allow plaintiffs to replead proper defendant
State v. Sum
Held that a person's race and ethnicity are relevant to determining if they would have felt free to leave a law enforcement encounter
Anderson v. Attorney General
Ruled ballot summary for proposed constitutional amendment for a new income tax to raise education and transportation funds fairly described the amendment
In re Schmidt
Ruled reapportionment legislation was procedurally and substantively valid and complied with constitutional requirements of one person-one vote and no invidious discrimination
Rivera v. Schwab
Rejected partisan gerrymandering claims. Dissent would have held that congressional maps were an unconstitutional racial gerrymander under state's equal protection guarantees and that claims of partisan gerrymandering were justiciable.
In re Annessa J.
Ruled termination of parental rights trial conducted virtually did not violate constitution’s provisions for open courts and legislative power over lower courts
