Publication Date
12-19-2025
Document Type
Article
Abstract
In Wasserman v. Franklin County, the Supreme Court of Georgia ended third-party standing, reasoning that the Georgia Constitution does not provide for it and that principles of stare decisis do not require that Georgia courts continue to follow the third-party standing doctrine. While Georgia courts imported the federal third-party standing doctrine in 2007, the supreme court abandoned it approximately eighteen years later. Beginning in Sons of Confederate Veterans v. Henry County Board Of Commissioners (“SCV”), the court narrowed the scope of standing under Georgia law. This case also reflects a broader trend in which the court strictly construes the language of Georgia statutory law. This Article will proceed with an analysis of the Wasserman case and its holding, including the historical context, its impact on third-party standing, and how the court is likely to approach statutory and constitutional interpretation–even in the face of well-established precedent. Finally, the Article will conclude with practical suggestions regarding how best to proceed in a post-Wasserman landscape.
Recommended Citation
Key, Scott
(2025)
"Standing Apart: Wasserman v. Franklin County and the End of Third-Party Standing in Georgia,"
Mercer Law Review: Vol. 77:
No.
1, Article 6.
Available at:
https://digitalcommons.law.mercer.edu/jour_mlr/vol77/iss1/6