State Court Report
@statecourtreport.org
State Court Report is a nonpartisan news source, resource, and commentary hub covering state constitutional developments in high courts across the 50 states. Visit StateCourtReport.org.
Tierra Walker’s family claims she died because she was denied a medically necessary abortion. Who, if anyone, will be held accountable for her death? We’ll be following this story and others like it on State Court Report. Subscribe today to learn more: bit.ly/45IXZ0M
The CA Supreme Court's holding that a sheriff's seizure of ballots cast in the state’s November 2025 special election was unlawful offers lessons for the upcoming midterms, writes @derekclinger.bsky.social of @uwlawdemocracy.bsky.social
California Supreme Court Finds Sheriff’s Seizure of 650,000 Ballots Unlawful
Two rulings offer lessons for voters, officials, and courts regarding law enforcement seizing election materials during the upcoming midterms.
statecourtreport.org
The Massachusetts Supreme Court is hearing arguments today on whether a judge was right to hold prosecutors responsible and dismiss criminal charges against a defendant when ICE detained him in the middle of his trial. Watch the arguments and read more here:
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in October
Issues on the dockets include seats on a swing-state election board, prosecutors’ cooperation with ICE, and birth certificate changes for transgender individuals.
statecourtreport.org
The Utah Supreme Court is hearing arguments today on whether the state can transfer high-profile redistricting, abortion, and climate challenges away from their judges to new judicial panels, under a 2026 law passed after redistricting losses. Watch and read more here:
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in October
Issues on the dockets include seats on a swing-state election board, prosecutors’ cooperation with ICE, and birth certificate changes for transgender individuals.
statecourtreport.org
State high courts in October will weigh whether prosecutors can be held responsible for ICE conduct in MA, transgender people can amend birth certificates in WY, an Atlanta county can reject two GOP nominees to its election board, and more, writes @skess108.bsky.social
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in October
Issues on the dockets include seats on a swing-state election board, prosecutors’ cooperation with ICE, and birth certificate changes for transgender individuals.
statecourtreport.org
A case SCOTUS hears on Monday could have major implications for the ability of states and localities to address climate-related harms in their communities. @johnsurico.bsky.social explains.
Will the Supreme Court Let States Sue Oil Companies for Climate Harm?
Local governments are seeking to hold fossil fuel companies financially liable for climate change-related damages, so far with limited success.
statecourtreport.org
Tennessee's governor suspended upcoming executions after this week's botched execution of Crista Pike, the second such failure in the state since May. @brennancenter.org's Jamie Muth details the state-by-state legality of the death penalty.
Death Penalty Laws, State-by-State
Although the death penalty is legal for federal crimes, the validity of the punishment under state constitutions and statutes varies widely.
statecourtreport.org
The horrific botched execution in Tennessee last night comes amid a sharp rise in executions in the United States. My colleague Jamie Muth has an excellent new explainer on the legal regimes governing the death penalty. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
Death Penalty Laws, State-by-State
Although the death penalty is legal for federal crimes, the validity of the punishment under state constitutions and statutes varies widely.
statecourtreport.org
Missouri’s redistricting fight shows the risks of last-minute changes to election maps. What role should courts play when those changes affect voters’ rights? Subscribe to State Court Report to learn more: bit.ly/45IXZ0M
Looking for a cheat sheet on state supreme court elections to watch? @douglaskeith.bsky.social, our resident judicial elections expert, has you covered! statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
State Supreme Court Elections to Watch This November
Judicial races will shape courts across the country and set up 2028 fights for majority control in Montana and North Carolina.
statecourtreport.org
Twenty-four states are holding elections for supreme court seats this November. @douglaskeith.bsky.social spotlights the supreme court races with the greatest potential to shape state high courts:
State Supreme Court Elections to Watch This November
Judicial races will shape courts across the country and set up 2028 fights for majority control 2028 in Montana and North Carolina
statecourtreport.org
A new report from @law.ucla.edu's Center on Reproductive Health, Law, and Policy offers guidance to courts, policymakers, and others interpreting state reproductive freedom amendments.
California’s Reproductive Freedom Amendment: An Opportunity for a New Constitutional Standard
Legal advocates should push for expansive court interpretations of new state constitutional amendments.
statecourtreport.org
@howard.edu's Robinson Woodward-Burns analyzed 1,528 state constitutional amendments proposed over the last two decades, charting differences across regions, types of provisions, and more.
Evaluating 20 Years of State Constitutional Changes
The data on state constitutional amendments shows the broad range of rights affected and how reformers approach changes to the documents.
statecourtreport.org
Excited to share this new article and very cool dataset from Robinson Woodward-Burns, examining 20 years of state constitutional amendments. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
Evaluating 20 Years of State Constitutional Changes
The data on state constitutional amendments shows the broad range of rights affected and how reformers approach changes to the documents.
statecourtreport.org
NEW: I wrote about a Texas lawsuit filed by the family of Tierra Walker, who allegedly died after being denied a medically necessary abortion. The complaint describes a “medical, legal, and political morass,” with patients like Walker paying the price. statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
Who is Accountable When Someone Dies After Being Denied an Abortion?
Texas woman Tierra Walker died after she was denied a medically necessary abortion, her family claims in a new law suit.
statecourtreport.org
In a muddled legal landscape, getting accountability for a preventable death following denial of an abortion may be complicated.
Who is Accountable When Someone Died After Being Denied an Abortion?
Texas woman Tierra Walker died after she was denied a medically necessary abortion, her family claims in a new law suit.
statecourtreport.org
The Delaware Supreme Court is hearing arguments today over a law allowing corporations that own property in a town to vote in municipal elections. The ACLU argues the law unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of humans. Watch and read more about the arguments here: bit.ly/4cFwJ8Z
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in September
Issues on the dockets include voting by corporations, congressional redistricting, National Guard deployment, and an abortion-ban challenge by religious plaintiffs.
statecourtreport.org
The West Virginia Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in a dispute over whether the board of education or the legislature controls public school policy in the state. Watch and read more about the arguments here: bit.ly/4cFwJ8Z
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in September
Issues on the dockets include voting by corporations, congressional redistricting, National Guard deployment, and an abortion-ban challenge by religious plaintiffs.
statecourtreport.org
On Wednesday, the Delaware Supreme Court will hear a challenge to a town charter that grants voting rights to corporations. @brennancenter.org's Alex Brunet writes about the case (and how to watch the oral arguments!).
Delaware Considers if Corporations Should Be Allowed to Vote
The Delaware Supreme Court will hear an appeal challenging the state constitutionality of a town charter that lets corporations vote, as lawmakers consider an amendment to ban the practice.
statecourtreport.org
A great discussion of the Rhode Island Constitution in here. Happy Constitution Day to all who celebrate!
State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 3w agoHappy Constitution Day to all 51 of our constitutions! Want to learn more about your state's constitution? Check out our Exploring State Constitutions essay series — we have 30+ states and counting.
This site is really great, btw--super helpful resource
State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 3w agoHappy Constitution Day to all 51 of our constitutions! Want to learn more about your state's constitution? Check out our Exploring State Constitutions essay series — we have 30+ states and counting.
Happy Constitution Day! But yes, especially these days, when thinking about constitutional law, it’s better to think about our *constitutions* — plural.
State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 3w agoHappy Constitution Day to all 51 of our constitutions! Want to learn more about your state's constitution? Check out our Exploring State Constitutions essay series — we have 30+ states and counting.
The fascinating Texas Constitution turned 150 this year. One of its unique provisions? The text allows for the state to divide itself into multiple states.
The Texas Constitution: Everything is Bigger, Even the Fine Print
Individual liberties are embedded in the DNA of Texas, its constitution, and its proud people.
statecourtreport.org
State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 3w agoHappy Constitution Day to all 51 of our constitutions! Want to learn more about your state's constitution? Check out our Exploring State Constitutions essay series — we have 30+ states and counting.
Happy Constitution Day to all 51 of our constitutions! Want to learn more about your state's constitution? Check out our Exploring State Constitutions essay series — we have 30+ states and counting.
Series: Exploring State Constitutions
statecourtreport.org
One of the things I find most interesting (and hopeful) about state constitutions is they have so many provisions that don't exist in the U.S. Constitution. @tiffanycli.bsky.social wrote about how state privacy rights can be a powerful tool. Check it out! statecourtreport.org/our-work/ana...
State Privacy Rights Are More Important Than Ever
With federal privacy protections receding or unsettled, state constitutions can provide a necessary shield.
statecourtreport.org
In October, the Utah Supreme Court will decide whether Utah's Constitution prohibits legislators from changing the judges hearing constitutional cases, part of a national trend of legislatures responding to losses in high-profile litigation by rerouting those cases to different judges.
Utah Supreme Court to Weigh Constitutionality of New Judicial Panel Law
The law at issue is part of a national trend involving legislators responding to losses by changing who hears constitutional cases.
statecourtreport.org
State courts have the power to grant a more expansive range of rights than those in the U.S. Constitution — and state constitutions provide the means for them to do so.
State Privacy Rights Are More Important Than Ever
With federal privacy protections receding or unsettled, state constitutions can provide a necessary shield.
statecourtreport.org
The Wisconsin Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in two challenges to the state’s congressional map, as gerrymandered to advantage Republicans and gerrymandered to suppress electoral competition, respectively. Watch and read more about the arguments here: bit.ly/4cFwJ8Z
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in September
Issues on the dockets include voting by corporations, congressional redistricting, National Guard deployment, and an abortion-ban challenge by religious plaintiffs.
statecourtreport.org
The South Carolina Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in a challenge to the governor’s deployment of the state National Guard to Washington, DC at the Trump administration’s request. Watch and read more about the arguments here: bit.ly/4cFwJ8Z
State Court Oral Arguments to Watch for in September
Issues on the dockets include voting by corporations, congressional redistricting, National Guard deployment, and an abortion-ban challenge by religious plaintiffs.
statecourtreport.org
A majority of the Indiana Supreme Court sounds hostile to the religious claims in this abortion exemption case. That’s not surprising, but the case remains an important test of whether “religious liberty for all” is a principled commitment or a hollow promise (cf papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers....).
Religious Freedom and Abortion
The demise of Roe v. Wade has raised a host of religious liberty questions that were submerged prior to the Supreme Court’s decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s
papers.ssrn.com
State Court Report@statecourtreport.org · 4w agoThe Indiana Supreme Court is hearing arguments today in a class action claiming the state’s abortion ban violates religious liberties. A lower court issued an injunction against the ban. Watch and read more about the arguments here: