A Primer on Standing in Federal Court

To seek relief in federal court, a plaintiff must demonstrate standing: that is, a personal, legally protectable interest in the outcome of the dispute. Standing is often self-evident. In recent years, however, technological advancements in the way we live and work have resulted in a proliferation of litigation based on intangible harms arising from the use or misuse of information, the violation of privacy rights, and the like. The amorphous nature of such harms has brought the doctrine’s complexities to the forefront.