Standing

Refers to one’s ability to bring a case on a certain subject. Generally, you have to be one of the parties directly impacted by a case to bring suit. For example, let’s say Brad and Paula are married to each other. Paula’s father, Ed, does not like Brad and wants Paula to divorce him. Ed, though, cannot file for divorce. He lacks standing to file a divorce, as he would only be indirectly impacted by it. Only Brad and Paula, the ones who would be directly impacted by divorce, have “standing.”