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 April 2025.
Featured Cases
Access Independent Health Services v. Wrigley
North Dakota Supreme Court upheld state's abortion ban despite three of five justices concluding a health-risk exception was unconstitutionally vague, because the state constitution requires four justices to declare legislation unconstitutional
Clarke v. Town of Newburgh
New York Court of Appeals held local government could not assert state or federal equal protection challenge to the vote dilution provision of the state's Voting Rights Act
League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Utah Supreme Court sent partisan gerrymandering case back to lower court to consider whether the legislature violated voters' fundamental right to "reform or alter" their government when it overturned redistricting reforms passed by initiative. Lower court found legislators violated that right and struck the current congressional map, adopting an alternative proposed by the plaintiffs
State v. Randall
Concurrence wrote that police dog’s intrusion into car during a traffic stop was an illegal search, as using an exterior car sniff by a dog is a search under the state constitution
Laws v. Grayeyes
Concurrence wrote that Utah's separation of powers provision would not prevent the legislature from granting standing to a plaintiff and questions applying federal standing rules
People v. McDaniel
Ruled that the state constitution does not require unanimity in jury's determination of disputed aggravating circumstances
State v. Melvin
Ruled that acquitted conduct may not be considered in sentencing defendants under state constitution’s heightened due process rights and right to a criminal trial by jury
Pinckney v. Peeler
Ruled that statute removing confederate flag from capital and renaming other historic items did not violate prohibition on special laws or home rule provision, but severed provision requiring a supermajority to amend the law
Brooks v. Ewing Cole, Inc.
Ruled pretrial decision denying a government defendant’s right to a sovereign immunity defense in a negligence action was an immediately appealable collateral order
Fay v. Fox
Ruled victim has right to be heard on merits of defendant’s motion for a delayed appeal of restitution award under due process, prompt restitution, and finality provisions of Victims’ Bill of Rights
In re Abbott
Ruled that the state constitution empowers the House of Representatives to compel the attendance of absent members
State v. Arctic Village Council
Ruled statutory witness requirement for absentee voting imposed unconstitutional burden during pandemic on right to vote absentee
Francis v. Wegener
Ruled permanently enjoining attorney from filing pro se claims as opposed to filing with retained counsel in state court did not violate constitutional right of access to courts
