This article was first published in the Colorado Lawyer Magazine in the October 2020 edition, written by Jeremy McKay. This article discusses criminal defense issues related to charges involving banned animal breeds. A client calls your firm looking for a defense attorney. The client has been charged with several serious misdemeanors and was told that…
How does qualified immunity impact animals?
Colorado is the first, and the only state, to enact a state analog to Section 1983, allowing a person to sue in state court when their civil rights, as set forth in the Colorado Constitution, have been violated by state actors and specifically disclaiming that “qualified immunity is not a defense to liability.” [i] However,…
Inequality Among Americans and Animals
This post is written while America burns; not its cities or its businesses, but the fabric and principles of its founding – across the nation, and indeed across the world, protesters flood the streets and advocate online against police violence in the wake of the murder of George Floyd, all the while police fire on…
What is Environmental Justice?
Environmental law has come a long way from its origins. What was once considered a fringe movement has now become mainstream as our world experiences climate change. However, environmentalism wouldn’t be where it is today without the advocates of the environmental justice movement. The environmental justice movement fights to address the adverse environmental impacts among…
Development in the Dark – Private v. Public Land Development
Environmentalism & Development Series, Part Four: Development in the Dark – Private v. Public Land Development. Our final entry into our development series will ponder an interesting dilemma inherent in the American system of private property rights and public oversight of things within the Public Trust. You can read Part Three, The Aspirations and Impacts…
The Aspirations and Impacts of Green Development
Environmentalism & Development Series, Part Three: The Aspirations and Impacts of Green Development In this third part of our Green Development series, we discuss some of the ways that development can be “green” as well shed a light on how even “green development” can impact the environment. You can read Part Two, Misconceptions About Environmentalists…
Misconceptions About Environmentalists Opposing Developments
Environmentalism & Development Series, Part Two: Misconceptions About Environmentalists Opposing Developments In this second part of our Green Development series, we look at the common misconceptions of environmental opposition to certain questionable development projects, how they gained the negative connotations of extremism, and what the opposition is actually trying to achieve. You can read Part…
Why Do Environmentalists Oppose Developments?
Environmentalism & Development Series, Part One: Why Do Environmentalists Oppose Developments? This blog is part of a four-part series that aims to shed some light on the interplay between environmentalism and development, including debunking common misconceptions of the environmentalist outlook on new development. This piece will discuss common reasons why environmentalists oppose development projects. It’s…
Help! I have to rehome my pet.
Most households in the United States have pets. Unfortunately, large numbers of these animals end up suffering because circumstances prevent many animal guardians from carrying out their responsibilities. Lost, surrendered, abandoned, or given away, many pets end up in places where they are abused, neglected, or euthanized because their guardians could no longer care for…
Help! My Partner Took Fluffy!
For many Americans, pets are considered part of the family. However, courts still consider pets to be property rather than family members. For unmarried couples looking to adopt a pet, the best advice is to hope for the best but plan for the worst. We previously discussed the situation of Jack and Jill, an unmarried…