11th Circuit Orders Hearing On Standing In 10 Commandments Case

In American Civil Liberties Union of Florida, Inc. v. Dixie County Florida, (11th Cir., Aug. 15, 2012), the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals remanded to the district court for a hearing on standing a case challenging the constitutionality of a Ten Commandments statue near the entrance to the Dixie County, Florida courthouse. The individual (identified as John Doe) through whom the ACLU claims organizational standing is a North Carolina resident who was offended when he saw the statue during a trip to the courthouse to check out certain real estate records. At issue was whether the statue was the cause of  Doe's not moving ahead to purchase property in the county. Judge Edmondson dissented in part, arguing that the case should be remanded for immediate dismissal, rather than for a further hearing on standing. The Wall Street Journal reports on the decision.