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
League of Women Voters of Utah v. Utah State Legislature (LWV 1)
Utah Supreme Court dismissed legislators' appeal from trial court ruling that struck the state's congressional map. Lower court said law the map was enacted under violated a fundamental right of voters to alter or reform their government — recognized by the Utah high court earlier in the case — by repealing a redistricting-reform initiative, and subsequently adopted plaintiffs' proposed alternative map
Commonwealth v. Council for Better Education; LaFontaine v. Council for Better Education
Kentucky Supreme Court ruled that a law providing for charter schools funds education outside the “system of common schools,” in violation of clauses requiring the legislature to establish such a system and voters to approve such funding
McDougle v. Nardo
Virginia Supreme Court permitted legislature's proposed amendment to redraw the state’s congressional map to proceed to a vote, while it considers appeal of trial court decision finding the legislative process unconstitutional
Associated Press v. Usher
Holding that the public's right to observe public body deliberations is not violated when the body intentionally avoids a quorum to shield deliberations from public view
State v. Lilly
Held that jury management practices may violate the right to a jury comprising a cross-section of the community if those practices cause the systemic exclusion of a particular group
Matter of Congressional Districts by New Jersey Redistricting Commission
Upheld congressional district reapportionment plan as meeting state and federal equal protection and due process requirements
Detroit Caucus v. Independent Citizens Redistricting Commission
Ruled that congressional and legislative district reapportionment plans adopted by independent commission satisfy the state constitution's redistricting provisions
State v. Reeves
Held that once a defendant has waived their self-representation right by proceeding to trial with counsel, the trial court may deny a later request for self-representation
State v. Reed
Ruled attorney’s fees are recoverable as restitution only when attorney is reasonably necessary to assist victim in exercising rights in a criminal case
Sagoonick v. State
Dismissed equal protection, substantive due process, and public trust rights claims that state energy policies violate individual fundamental right to Alaska’s natural resources and a stable climate
Durst v. Idaho Commission for Reapportionment
Determined that legislative reapportionment plan did not unreasonably divide counties as the state constitution prohibits
League of Women Voters of Michigan v. Secretary of State
Held a geographic distribution requirement for petition signatures was unconstitutional, but allowing a checkbox indicating whether the petition circulator was paid or volunteer
State v. Carr
Upheld death sentence as not violating right to life and jury trial rights under state constitution
