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Supreme Court held that an 1849 law, which a local prosecutor had claimed was a near-total abortion ban, is impliedly repealed as to abortion by subsequent legislation and does not ban the procedure in the state.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.
Commonwealth v. Sweeting-Bailey
Dissents wrote that majority's view that police reasonably suspected that the defendant was armed based on companion’s behavior allows for encroachment on right to be free from unreasonable search and seizure
The Cleveland Electric Illuminating Co. v. The City of Cleveland
Ruled a municipal utility may acquire excess electricity capacity without violating the constitution so long as the acquisition was not for the sole purpose of reselling it
League of Women Voters of Pennsylvania v. Degraffenreid
Enjoined the tabulating and certifying of votes on victim’s rights ballot question, ruled amendment violated constitution’s separate vote requirement
The Detroit News, Inc. v. Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
Ruled redistricting commission’s closed-session meeting and withholding of memoranda requested by news organizations violated open meetings and publication of supporting materials requirements
Dunleavy v. Alaska Legislative Council ex rel. Alaska State Legislature
Ruled that laws defining legislative inaction as tantamount to rejection, in the context of appointments and confirmations, violate the state constitution
State v. Stephens
Ruled statute violated separation of powers clause because it delegated authority to the Attorney General to prosecute election laws, a power more properly assigned to the judicial department
State v. Bowman
Ruled that a cell phone owner’s voluntary consent to search text messages justifies intruding on an otherwise private affair
Wash. State Legislature v. Inslee
Ruled that the governor exceeded his veto power by striking a single sentence in an appropriate bill
Calcasieu Parish School Board Sales v. Nelson Industrial Steam Co.
Ruled legislation excluding certain transactions from sales tax was a new tax and violated Tax Limitation clause for failure to garner a supermajority vote in legislature
Commonwealth v. Dejesus
Abolished separate standing requirement and ruled a defendant need only show a reasonable expectation of privacy in a place searched to contest search and seizure
