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US Judge Asked to Hear Case about Orcas

Critter News

A federal judge for the first time in US history has heard arguments in a case that could determine whether animals enjoy the same constitutional protection against slavery as human beings. Advertisement: Story continues below "This case is on the next frontier of civil rights," said PETA lawyer Jeffrey Kerr, representing the five orcas.

San Diego 100
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Animal Rights

Animal Ethics

PETA's latest publicity stunt was to file a lawsuit in federal court alleging that five orcas at SeaWorld in San Diego are slaves for purposes of the 13th Amendment. First, the 13th Amendment was designed to abolish human chattel slavery. The right is defeasible, of course, as it is in the case of humans.