Supreme Court of the United States · Official docket →
City of Ocala, Florida v. Art Rojas, et al.
Paid petition · United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit, No. 18-12679 · judgment July 22, 2022
Before the decision, about 7.1× the 4.1% base rate. The model weighted this up for counsel who has won certiorari before, a petition filed soon after the judgment below, and a state or local-government petitioner.
Question presented
Petitioner City of Ocala, in response to a local shooting, encouraged the citizenry to attend an upcoming prayer rally. Respondents learned of the event and, concerned that the rally might constitute an Establishment Clause violation, made a point to attend in person. Respondents allege that the event did indeed contain religious elements that offended them and made them feel excluded. Respondents then sued in federal court, asserting a violation of the Establishment Clause. Both the district court and the Eleventh Circuit held that at least one of the respondents had “offended observer” standing to bring suit. The question presented is: Is psychic or emotional offense allegedly caused by observation of religious messages an injury sufficient to confer standing under Article III of the Constitution, including where the offended party deliberately seeks out the exposure in question?
Counsel of record
For petitioner
Jay Alan Sekulow
For respondent
Ayesha N. Khan
Potomac Law Group, PLLC
Case
Conference history
Distributed for 6 conferences
Argument & decision
Decided March 6, 2023.
Proceedings
- Mar 06 2023Petition DENIED. Statement of Justice Gorsuch respecting the denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion) Justice Thomas, dissenting from denial of certiorari. (Detached Opinion)
- Feb 27 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 3/3/2023.
- Feb 21 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/24/2023.
- Feb 10 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 2/17/2023.
- Jan 17 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/20/2023.
- Jan 09 2023DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/13/2023.
- Jan 03 2023Rescheduled.
- Dec 14 2022DISTRIBUTED for Conference of 1/6/2023.
- Dec 12 2022Reply of petitioner City of Ocala, Florida filed. (Distributed)
- Nov 28 2022Brief of respondents Art Rojas, et al. in opposition filed.
- Oct 07 2022Motion to extend the time to file a response is granted and the time is extended to and including November 28, 2022.
- Oct 06 2022Motion to extend the time to file a response from October 24, 2022 to November 28, 2022, submitted to The Clerk.
- Sep 22 2022Petition for a writ of certiorari filed. (Response due October 24, 2022)