Document ID: ./input/supremecourt_opinions/opinions/18pdf/17-1717_4f14.pdf
Page Number: 56.0

Cite as:  588 U. S. ____ (2019) 

1 

GORSUCH, J., concurring 
GORSUCH, J., concurring in judgment 

SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES 

_________________ 

Nos. 17–1717 and 18–18 
_________________ 

17–1717 

THE AMERICAN LEGION, ET AL., PETITIONERS 
v. 
AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, ET AL.; AND 

MARYLAND-NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND 
PLANNING COMMISSION, PETITIONER 
v. 
AMERICAN HUMANIST ASSOCIATION, ET AL. 

18–18 

ON WRITS OF CERTIORARI TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF 
APPEALS FOR THE FOURTH CIRCUIT 

[June 20, 2019] 

  JUSTICE  GORSUCH,  with  whom  JUSTICE  THOMAS  joins, 
concurring in the judgment. 
  The  American  Humanist  Association  wants  a  federal 
court to order the destruction of a 94 year-old war memo-
rial  because  its  members  are  offended.    Today,  the  Court 
explains that the plaintiffs are not entitled to demand the 
destruction  of  longstanding  monuments,  and  I  find  much 
of  its  opinion  compelling.    In  my  judgment,  however,  it 
follows  from  the  Court’s  analysis  that  suits  like  this  one 
should  be  dismissed  for  lack  of  standing.    Accordingly, 
while I concur in the judgment to reverse and remand the 
court  of  appeals’  decision,  I  would  do  so  with  additional 
instructions to dismiss the case. 

* 
  The  Association  claims  that  its  members  “regularly” 
come into “unwelcome direct contact” with a World War I 
memorial  cross  in  Bladensburg,  Maryland  “while  driving 
in the area.”  874 F. 3d 195, 203 (CA4 2017).  And this, the