We will then look at state anti-cruelty laws including affirmative acts of cruelty, neglect, animal hoarding, and cruelty in activities such as hunting, rodeos, and animal racing. We will then look at animal trusts, including pet trusts, and how the use of trust law may lead to animals actually owning property. From there, we will look at guardianship arrangements, not only in the United States but also in other countries.

We will look at whether animals have standing to sue as well as other constitutional issues such as due process, the First Amendment, as well as whether zoo-bound chimps and elephants are entitled to file writs of habeas corpus or have the right to their own freedom.

We will then look at puppy mills, housing laws related to pets, service animals, and tort claims.

We will move away from domesticated animals and look at issues related to the wildlife trade, animal research, and whether a monkey and other animals can own a copyright. Next, we will look at one of the more important animal rights laws, the Endangered Species Act.

Finally, we will look at the laws related to farm animals, “humane” slaughter laws, and Ag-Gag laws. To wrap up, we will conduct a brief review of the origins of animal law, its current state, and its future trajectory.

***
This course will be taught by Joel Summer, who has had a long-distinguished career as an environmental lawyer, and Grant Wilson, a lawyer who is the Executive Director of Earth Law Center headquartered in Durango, CO. Earth Law Center specializes in emerging ecocentric law.

Additional Information:
Credit Hours: 2
Grading Option: Letter Grade Only
Graduation Writing Requirement: No
Flexible/Upper-Level Writing Requirement: No
Skills Requirement: No
Simulation Course: No
Experiential Learning: No
Seminar: No
Special Withdrawal Course: No
Limited Enrollment Number: 25
Final Exam Given: No
Paper Or In-Class Presentation: Paper
Attendance Policy: Per Statement Of Student Policies
Teaching Method: ASU Sync

* The law school has a policy that is used to calculate credit hours. Please see the Statement of Student Policies.