LAW 648 - Animals & Justice Seminar

Unit(s): 3

This class will explore the relationship between animals and justice through two lenses: First, what does justice for animals demand of us, legally, politically, and culturally? Second, how does the animal rights movement intersect with movements for human social justice? Through an examination of litigation campaigns and policy questions, this seminar will investigate topics such as: the entitlement of animals to just treatment under the law; litigation strategies to establish justice for animals; whether animals themselves have a concept of justice within their own communities; the connections between anthropocentrism (human-centeredness) and colonialism, racism, ableism, sexism, and heteronormativity; what an intersectional animal justice movement might look like; and specific case studies involving the overlap between animal legal advocacy and social justice in cases involving labor exploitation and civil liberties at slaughterhouses, animal cruelty crimes and incarceration, environmental racism in industrial animal agriculture, and cultural practices such as hunting and cockfighting. Each student will draft and present a paper on a topic related to animals and justice. Animal Law is not a prerequisite.

Restriction: College restricted to School of Law
School of Law