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."
Murphy v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Held that the Chief Judge's pandemic-era administrative tolling order, concerning the timeliness of complaints, did not violate separation of powers or unconstitutionally suspend laws
People v. Dawson
Dissent wrote that defendant's request that an interrogating officer call his lawyer amounted to a request to speak with his lawyer, invalidating subsequent waiver of Miranda rights
Stepp v. Cottrell
Held that a claim for excessive force by police officers must be analyzed under the relevant constitutional provision rather than as a general violation of substantive due process
State v. Price-Williams
Dissent would have held that a defendant must be both armed and dangerous for a search following a Terry stop to be constitutional
State v. Hauge
Held the constitution does not require individuals be informed that they are free to refuse consent to a warrantless search
Bass v. City of Edmonds
Held that a city ordinance requiring that guns be stored safely and kept out of unauthorized hands is preempted by state firearms law
Nevada Policy Research Institute, Inc. v. Cannizzaro
Established an exception to traditional standing requirements when an appropriate party seeks to enforce a public official's compliance with Nevada's separation-of-powers clause
Illinois Road & Transportation Builders Association v. The County of Cook
Dissent wrote that an amendment restricting how government may use transportation-related revenue can only apply to state revenue under home rule provisions which empower localities
Association of Village Council Presidents Regional Housing Authority v. Mael
Ruled statutory noneconomic damages cap’s failure to account for inflation does not violate due process rights
Rutledge v. Remmel
Ruled constitution’s specific illegal-exaction provision controls over general sovereign immunity, allowing illegal exaction claim against Attorney General
