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 March 2025.
Featured Cases
Kaul v. Urmanski
Wisconsin Supreme Court held that an 1849 law, which a local prosecutor had claimed was a near-total abortion ban, is impliedly repealed as to abortion by subsequent legislation and does not ban the procedure in the state.
Contoocook Valley School District v. New Hampshire
The New Hampshire Supreme Court affirmed the state's existing education funding law is constitutionally inadequate and $7,356.01 per pupil as a minimum constitutional guidepost for the legislature, but reversed the trial court's injunction directing the state immediately to pay that amount because the court failed to give adequate weight to separation of powers concerns.
Republican National Committee v. Eternal Vigilance Action, Inc; Georgia v. Eternal Vigilance Action
The Georgia Supreme Court ruled invalid under state nondelegation principles four of seven rules passed by the Georgia State Election board, while upholding one rule. The court did not decide the validity of two other rules, holding that the plaintiffs lacked standing to challenge the provisions.
Associated General Contractors of Washington v. State
Ruled that a bill modifying how the Department of Labor and Industries calculated prevailing wage rates for public works projects was not an unconstitutional delegation of legislative authority
Statler v. State
Ruled statute proscribing sexual battery as a general intent crime not requiring defendant’s knowledge as to complainant’s nonconsent is constitutional under due process clause
State v. Thompson
Ruled police’s continued seizure of defendant’s cell phone without a warrant was not reasonably necessary to its investigation and violated unreasonable search and seizure protections
State v. Graham
Ruled prosecutor’s specific argument that defendant tailored their testimony in response to the testimony other witnesses provided at trial did not violate defendant's right to confrontation
Short v. State
Ruled executive branch’s sweep of unappropriated state general funds, including funds for educational grants, into a reserve fund did not violate legislature’s appropriation powers
Burns v. Arizona Public Service Co.
Ruled majority of commissioners of public utilities commission may not prevent an individual commissioner from exercising constitutionally granted investigatory powers
State v. Mefford
Ruled parole officer’s warrantless search of defendant’s cell phone apps exceeded any valid exception, violating searches and seizures and right to privacy clauses
State ex rel. Office of the State Engineer v. Romero
Ruled groundwater forfeiture statute allowed for partial forfeiture of petitioner’s water rights for nonuse and was consistent with constitution’s beneficial use doctrine
Department of Corrections v. Stefano
Held that a person released from prison on electronic monitoring has due process rights implicated when they are removed from electronic monitoring and returned to prison
State ex rel. Sanduskians for Sandusky v. The City of Sandusky
Mandated city commission submit proposed city charter amendment to a special election, but commission is not constitutionally required to place proposal on general election ballot
