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` Cite as: 573 U. S. ____ (2014)
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`Statement of ALITO, J.
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`SUPREME COURT OF THE UNITED STATES
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` MOUNT SOLEDAD MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION v.
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` STEVE TRUNK, ET AL.
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`ON PETITION FOR A WRIT OF CERTIORARI BEFORE JUDGMENT
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`TO THE UNITED STATES COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE NINTH
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`CIRCUIT
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` No. 13–1061. Decided June 30, 2014
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`The petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment is
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`denied.
` Statement of JUSTICE ALITO respecting the denial of the
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`petition for a writ of certiorari before judgment.
`This case came before us two years ago, see 567 U. S.
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`___ (2012), and at that time I issued a statement respect-
`ing the denial of certiorari. I noted that although the
`“Court’s Establishment Clause jurisprudence is undoubt-
`edly in need of clarity,” certiorari was not yet warranted in
`this case “[b]ecause no final judgment has been rendered
`and it remains unclear precisely what action the Federal
`Government will be required to take.” Id., at ___ (slip op.,
`at 2, 3).
`Since that time, the District Court has issued an order
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`requiring the memorial to be removed, but it has stayed
`that order pending appeal. The Court of Appeals has not
`yet reviewed that order on appeal. Seeking to bypass that
`step, petitioner seeks certiorari before judgment. In my
`view, it has not met the very demanding standard we
`require in order to grant certiorari at that stage. In light
`of the stay, any review by this Court can await the deci-
`sion of the Court of Appeals. I therefore agree with the
`Court’s decision to deny the petition.