Supreme Court Rules In Animals' Favor = Big Changes in California

The Supreme Court of the United States has rejected the meat industry's challenge to a California law prohibiting cruel confinement of farmed animals! This is a HUGE victory for animal rights and the animals themselves! On June 28, 2021, the Supreme Court of the United States rejected the North American Meat Institute's (NAMI) challenge to California's Proposition 12. Proposition 12 is due to go into effect on January 1, 2022. It strengthens existing California law to ban the intensive confinement of egg-laying chickens, mother pigs and calves used in the veal industry. The law also prohibits the sale in California of eggs, pork and veal from facilities that confine animals in cruel cages. Voters adopted Proposition 12 in 2018. When NAMI sued California in an attempt to stop the state from implementing Proposition 12, Animal Outlook voluntarily intervened in the lawsuit on behalf of the State of California to defend Proposition 12 and protect the millions of hens, pigs and calves used to produce meat and eggs sold in California. Animal Outlook was joined by Animal Equality, Animal Legal Defense Fund, Compassion in World Farming, Farm Sanctuary, the Humane League and the Humane Society of the United States. In rejecting NAMI's challenge, the Supreme Court upheld an appellate court's denial of NAMI's claim that Proposition 12 violated the United States Constitution. The Supreme Court's decision affirms the right of states to pass laws protecting animals, public health and safety. While an appeal in a second lawsuit against Proposition 12, brought by the National Pork Producers Council, still looms, the Supreme Court's decision against NAMI is a massive victory for animals. AnimalOutlook.org is a great site to visit to get involved and learn more. Here to discuss all this is Animal Outlook's legal counsel Will Lowrey.