California Standing Doctrine: The Enigma Explained

Abstract

Is there a doctrine of standing in California state courts? Our research and analysis in this paper will reveal that, strictly speaking, there is no doctrine of standing. Nevertheless, California has developed, through statutes and case law, many analogous doctrines that do much of the same work that standing doctrine does in the federal courts. Our aim in this article is to provide a roadmap to the court and practitioners in this state on dealing with what we shall call California’s quasi-standing, and its related doctrines.

Keywords: standing, lujan, taxpayer standing, citizen standing, California, political question, california constitution, mootness, ripeness, real party in interest, declaratory relief, mandamus, writ of mandate, citizen suits, coastal act, administrative procedure act, unfair competition