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 November 2024.
Featured Cases
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.
City of Fargo v. State
Held that a 2023 statute barring localities from enacting ordinances related to the purchase, sale, or possession of firearms and ammunitions that are more restrictive than state law preempted the city of Fargo’s limits on such sales and did not violate state constitutional “home rule” clauses as applied to Fargo’s restrictions.
Evers v. Marklein
Court will decide whether a legislative committee’s vetoes of an agency rule that would ban the practice of “conversion therapy” for LGBTQ+ patients violates the separation of powers principles in the Wisconsin Constitution.
In an earlier installment of the case, the court ruled 6–1 that the law permitting the effective legislative veto of agency land-conservation expenditures violated the executive branch’s “core power” to “take care that the laws be faithfully executed.” While the Wisconsin Constitution gives the legislature authority to create an agency, define its parameters, and appropriate funds for it, the power to spend those funds in accordance with legislation lies solely with the executive, the court said.
Fay v. Merrill
Ruled governor’s executive order to add Covid-19 as a new reason for requesting an absentee ballot did not violate constitution’s absentee ballot clause
State v. Lee
Ruled that evidence of a separate, independent crime after an illegal entry should not have been suppressed under constitution's search and seizure clause
Schires v. Carlat
Ruled city’s payment of public funds to induce private university to open branch campus violated gift clause where funds were disproportionate to the bargained-for benefits from university
State v. Thompson
Ruled that statute, as applied to prohibit a represented party from filing pro se supplemental briefs on appeal, does not violate separation of powers doctrine
State ex rel. Dickey v. Besler
Ruled that challenge to governor's appointment of a judge as untimely was nonjusticiable as the only other official with appointment power, the chief justice, accepted the appointment
Rozenblit v. Lyles
Ruled that agreement between school district and education association authorizing teachers to work on the association's business does not violate gift clause requiring public money is used for public purposes
State v. Halverson
Ruled that self-incrimination clause does not support per se rule treating all incarcerated individuals as "in custody"
Feldman v. Salt Lake City Corp.
Ruled that statute limiting landowners' liability for personal injury did not violate constitution's wrongful death clause
Convent Corp. v. City of North Little Rock
Allowed nightclub’s as-applied due process and takings challenges to proceed as to condemnation ordinance and procedures
In re Palmer
Ruled habeas relief was available to inmate whose continued incarceration had become constitutionally excessive after parole denials, but parole term remained valid after release
