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 June 2025.
Featured Cases
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
Luther v. Hoskins
The Missouri Supreme Court rejected voters' challenge to Missouri's new congressional district map, which the plaintiffs said ran afoul of state constitutional prohibitions on mid-decade redistricting. The court said the state constitution contained no express prohibition on mid-decade redistricting and that the map was a "valid exercise" of the "plenary legislative power to establish congressional districts."
In re Judge Christian Coomer
Ruled that judicial conduct code does not apply to conduct before the person became a judicial candidate and that discipline for conduct outside of the judicial capacity requires bad faith
People v. Johnson
Concurrence wrote that “police-initiated encounters with individuals are unconstitutional absent reasonable suspicion of criminality"
Idaho Power Co. v. Idaho State Tax Commission
Held that federal railroad law did not preempt state constitution’s requirement for tax uniformity, ruled taxing commission may not tax railroad properties differently than plaintiffs’ properties
State ex rel. Grooms v. Privette
Ruled court lacked constitutional power to punish court clerk for contempt for failing to perform statutorily-required duties that were unrelated to court’s judicial function
State v. Noli
Ruled police’s expansion of scope of traffic stop into an unrelated illegal drug investigation violated constitution’s protections against unreasonable search and seizure
Commonwealth v. Rader
Ruled police stop and frisk of defendant did not violate state constitutional search and seizure and equal protection provisions, but defendants may make equal protection claims in the context of pedestrian stops
Becker v. Dane Cnty.
Ruled that a local health officer's authority to issue public health orders does not run afoul of separation of powers
Weems v. State
Held that law barring Advanced Practice Registered Nurses from performing abortions unconstitutionally interfered with individuals' privacy right to seek medical care from a qualified provider of their choice
Holmes v. Moore
Ruled that implementing statute for constitutional amendment requiring photo identification for voting in person did not violate equal protection clause
Burnett v. Smith
Held that damages actions against the state for constitutional violations are not recognized by the court unless authorized by common law, state statute, or the constitution
