What a horrible indictment of our legal system. An issue that should be determined at the lowest court has to be adjudicated at the nation's highest court.
Yes it is.
However IIRC the original 'lower court' did rule against Newdow, but the 9th Circus (sic) overturned it on appeal.
This case is a PRIME example of the 9th Circus (sic) getting 'it' consistently wrong. And as you say, they should have easily come to the same conclusion - no standing. But it almost seems like they make these wrong rulings on purpose, just to keep the SCOTUS busy.
Those mopes need to be impeached or at least sanctioned.