The Court System

State Courts

What is the relationship between state high courts and state constitutions?

State constitutions created the state high courts. The other relationship is that state high courts, not the U.S. Supreme Court, are the ultimate arbiters and interpreters of the meaning of state constitutions. State supreme courts are free to interpret their state constitutions to provide greater protection under the state constitution than the U.S. Supreme Court has done under the U.S. Bill of Rights.