Lawyers for dogs? New Jersey judiciary approves draft bill
NEWS: When humans who abuse animals are taken to court, they get a defence lawyer. But who represents the animals in these cases? The US state of New Jersey thinks our non-human companions should also be represented fairly.
New Jersey’s animals may soon be assigned legal representation to protect their interests in court cases, if bill A1965 makes it through the US state’s Legislature.
The draft law has been approved by New Jersey’s Assembly Judiciary Committee, having been passed unanimously last year by the state Senate.
In its latest version, the plan sets out a two-year introductory Statewide Animal Advocate Program, by which a judge hearing a criminal case concerning an animal may appoint an attorney or law student who volunteers.
“By allowing a volunteer advocate to be appointed for an animal, the Legislature is recognizing that the animal’s interests should be represented and that those interests may not be adequately represented by a defence attorney or prosecutor,” said Doris Lin, director of legal affairs for the League of Humane Voters of New Jersey, who drew parallels between bill A1965 and laws that provide advocates for children.
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Opponents of the law - including bodies representing pet shops and biomedical research - have said that it oversteps legal boundaries and represents an unprecedented redefining of the rights of animals within law.
But Brian Hackett, legislative affairs manager of the Animal Legal Defense Fund, said the bill stops short of giving animals personhood or an attorney in court - rather the appointed volunteer attorney or student will only assist with research and suggest legal options.
“There is no far animal rights conspiracy involved in this bill to add anything that is not already in existing law,” Hackett said. According to proponents of the bill, 40 attorneys have already volunteered to take part in the pilot programme.
Andrew Gough is Media and Investigations Manager for Surge.
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