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 May 2025.
Featured Cases
League of Women Voters of South Carolina v. Alexander
South Carolina Supreme Court held that partisan gerrymandering claims are nonjusticiable political questions, which state courts cannot review, under the state constitution.
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.
Black Voters Matter v. Byrd
Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's 2022 congressional map against voting rights groups' challenge that it diminishes Black voters' ability to elect candidates of their choice in violation of a 2010 amendment, finding the plaintiffs had not proven the possibility of drawing a remedial map that complies with the federal equal protection clause.
Smith v. Isakson
Ruled that courts must look to offense's historical nature and the severity of the penalty to determine whether right to jury trial was preserved for the crime
Pennsylvania Environmental Defense Foundation v. Commonwealth
Ruled that statutes diverting to the state's general fund revenue generated from oil and gas leases on state lands violate clause placing the state's natural resources in public trust
Carrigan v. New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services
Ruled that taxpayers' standing to seek declaration that the state misspent public funds only extends to discrete governmental spending action, not overall allocation of resources
Odyssey 2020 Academy, Inc. v. Galveston Central Appraisal District
Ruled that the state constitution does not permit a property tax exemption for a charter school
James v. Heinrich
Held that pandemic order restricting or prohibiting in-person instruction violated right to free exercise of religion
State v. Recall Dunleavy
Ruled recall committee exercising constitutional right to recall governor submitted legally and factually sufficient allegations to Division of Elections to certify application
State v. Bemer
Ruled statute permitting court to order defendant to submit to exam for sexually transmitted diseases based only on having been charged with a sexual act offense violated right to be free from unreasonable searches
McLaughlin v. Montana State Legislature
Ruled that legislative subpoenas for the production of Court Administrator's devices used to facilitate polling of state judges and emails exceed the scope of legislative authority
State v. Andujar
Ruled that implicit or unconscious racial bias in jury selection process, not just purposeful discrimination, may violate constitutional right to trial by fair and impartial jury
State v. Galvin
Ruled Division of Elections' omission of party nominee’s nonpartisan voter affiliation on ballot did not violate nominee’s constitutional right of political association
