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. McQueen
Ruled that an arrestee had a reasonable expectation of privacy in phone call made from police station, and warrantless seizure of the recording was unconstitutional
Leidig v. State
Ruled admission of forensic test report without giving the defendant an opportunity to cross-exam the author violated confrontation clause
Buford v. State
Ruled that defendant's consent to the search of his person included the search of a specific container on his person, and so no additional consent was required
Mayor & City Council of Ocean City v. Commissioners of Worcester County
Ruled tax set off statutes permitting counties to deny municipal tax setoff requests do not impermissibly regulate local affairs in violation of home rule amendment
State v. Amstutz
Ruled that arrest violated search and seizure clause because information available to other officers that would have created probable cause could not be imputed to arresting officer
State v. Carter
Ruled that stop based on officer's mistaken interpretation of license plate concealment statute violated state constitution's search and seizure clause even though it would not have violated federal Fourth Amendment
Sheffield v. Detroit City Clerk
Held that a governor stopping city charter revisions from being submitted to voters would conflict with constitutional clauses vesting cities with control over their charters
Myers v. Reno Cab Co.
Ruled that employee status for constitutional minimum wage amendment is determined by totality of circumstances, and provision entitling aggrieved employees to all available remedies only applies to claims under the amendment.
People v. Washington
Ruled that trial court lacked jurisdiction when it resentenced defendant pursuant to intermediate appellate court's order while defendant's appeal was pending in state supreme court
Taxpayers for Michigan Constitutional Government v. State
Ruled that state payments to school districts are included in total state spending for purposes of constitutional spending requirements, but charter schools are not school districts for purposes of the amendment
