For those who have lost their friends.

great video

Full length video at:

http://www.aldf.org/aals1

On January 5, 2008 the Association of American Law Schools (AALS) held an Open Program on Debating Animals as Legal Persons as part of the AALS annual conference. Defining personhood for purposes of allocating legal rights is a highly problematic endeavor. Nonhuman animals, although sentient beings, are treated as property under the law. They are legal things and thus excluded from legal personhood. This session explored the legal and normative basis for personhood and why nonhuman animals have been excluded from its ambit.

The guest panelists included:

Chair

-Joan Schaffner, Associate Professor of Law, George Washington University Law School

Moderator

-Katherine Hessler, Professor of Law, Case School of Law

Panelists

-Taimie Bryant, Professor of Law, UCLA Law School

-David Cassuto, Associate Professor of Law, Pace Law School

-David Favre, Professor of Law, Michigan State University Law School

-Steven Wise, Adjunct Professor of Law, Vermont Law School, St. Thomas University School of Law

As a result of this Open Program and the efforts and support of the panelists, the Animal Law Section was formally adopted by the AALS Executive Committee in June 2008.

Watch the full 2-part panel at:

http://www.aldf.org/aals1

http://www.aldf.org/aals2