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Supreme Court Strikes Down Depiction of Animal Cruelty Act

Critter News

The Supreme Court struck down a law that outlawed the depiction of animal cruelty. The high court case stemmed from the arrest and conviction of a Virginia-based documentary producer named Robert Stevens who sold videos containing scenes of dogfights. He argued that his documentaries were protected by the First Amendment.

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Supreme Court to Review Legality of Animal Abuse Videos

Critter News

The justices said they would review, at the request of the federal government, an appeals court decision that said Congress's broad attempt to discourage animal cruelty by outlawing its depiction violates the First Amendment. Thanks to Animal Law Online for the catch. The last time the court did so was over child pornography.

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Appeal Denied for Six Activists Convicted Under AEPA

Critter News

Six members of Stop Huntingdon Animal Cruelty were convicted at a 2006 trial in New Jersey of conspiracy to violate the 1992 Animal Enterprise Protection Act. The law, since revised, aimed to protect animal research laboratories from illegal, sometimes violent protests. From the Philadelphia Inquirer.

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On Trial: Animal Torture Videos vs. Free Speech

Animal Ethics

Code, Title 18.48, made it a federal crime to knowingly create, sell, or possess a depiction of animal cruelty with the intention of placing that depiction in interstate or foreign commerce for commercial gain. Similarly, child pornography is not protected by the First Amendment. I don’t think so. Code, Title 18.48

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From Today's New York Times

Animal Ethics

2): We disagree with your contention that the First Amendment protects animal “crush” videos. Stevens , the Supreme Court last year overturned a 1999 law banning depictions of animal cruelty on the grounds of overbreadth. But they explicitly reserved judgment on a statute narrowly tailored to crush videos.

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National Justice for Animals Week

Critter News

Here is the full press release: During its first-ever National Justice for Animals Week, February 22 – 28, 2009, the national non-profit Animal Legal Defense Fund (ALDF) is recognizing some of the top law enforcement professionals in the nation for getting real justice for animals who are victims of abuse.

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Soccer Player Kicks Owl on Field?

10,000 Birds

Video and desultory apology here. It’s too bad that the owl had to die because the one team couldn’t keep it under control, but I feel even worse that this ass will more than likely not even receive a fine for this animal cruelty because Columbia has no laws on the subject. The proposal from U.S. Wicked, right?

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