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
Doe v. Brown University
Ruled that constitutional clause protecting against state discrimination by reason of race, gender or handicap does not create a private right of action
State v. Staker
Ruled that defendant has no reasonable expectation of privacy in text messages sent to an undercover agent posing as a sex worker, and so rights to privacy and to be free from unreasonable searches are not violated
Poudre School District R-1 v. Stanczyk
Ruled local school boards’ constitutional authority over teacher employment decisions is not unlimited and may be restricted by statutory criteria or judicial review
Harvey v. Merchan
Ruled that statute allowing time-barred civil claims for childhood sexual abuse to be revived does not violate prohibition on retroactive laws or defendants' due process or equal protection rights
Gilliam v. State
Ruled that precedent in which court exercised jurisdiction with no constitutional or statutory basis, but in the interest of judicial economy, was inconsistent with constitution's jurisdictional provisions
VanWinkle v. Sage
Ruled proposed ballot initiative to revise animal cruelty statute to expand definitions of animal cruelty and sexual act with an animal violated single-subject requirement
Iowa Citizens for Community Improvement v. State
Ruled that suit seeking to force state officials to require farmers to reduce chemical levels in a river should be dismissed for lack of standing and nonjusticiability under separation of powers
Anthony A. v. Commissioner of Corrections
Ruled prisoner’s sex offender classification violated state constitution's criminal due process clause and procedural but not substantive due process rights of the prisoner
Louisville/Jefferson County Metro Government Waste Management District v. Jefferson County League of Cities, Inc.
Ruled that statute giving cities in a county with a consolidated local government additional rights with resect to waste management districts violated clause requiring legislation treat all cities equally
Frazier v. Talbert
Ruled that in proceeding for revocation of a driver's license for DUI, where the driver demanded a blood test, but that test was never given, there is no per se violation of constitutional due process