Judge gives chimpanzees human rights for the first time

[NorthernVike 2,080]

For the first time in US history, a judge has decreed that a pair of chimpanzees held at a university research facility are covered by the same laws that govern the detention of humans, effectively rendering the animals as legal "people" in the eyes of the law. New York Supreme Court Justice Barbara Jaffe said that the apes, held at Stony Brook University for research purposes, are covered by a writ of habeas corpus — a basic legal principle that lets people challenge the validity of their detention.

The decision comes two years after the Nonhuman Rights Project, an animal rights group, brought legal cases in a bid to free four chimpanzees. The group said the animals — Hercules and Leo at Stony Brook university, and two others on private property — were being unlawfully imprisoned, and should be relocated to a sanctuary. Three lower court judges dismissed the cases as they were raised in 2013, but the Nonhuman Rights Project appealed, eventually convincing Jaffe that the animals were sufficiently intelligent to grant them what amounts to basic human rights.

The animal rights group wants the apes moved to a sanctuary

Jaffe has ordered a Stony Brook representative to appear in court on May 6th to reply to the Nonhuman Rights Project's petition that the animals are being held unlawfully. It could be that the judge organized the hearing to listen to both sides of the case before making a decision, and will ultimately decide that Stony Brook can keep the apes — Richard Cupp, a law professor at California's Pepperdine University told Science it would be "quite surprising" if the judge made "a momentous substantive finding" that chimps were legally people without both parties being able to have their say.

But Natalie Prosin, the Nonhuman Rights Project's executive director, said that regardless of whether Hercules and Leo are afforded legal personhood after the hearing, the group intends to use the judge's ruling in future cases. "We have scientific evidence to prove in a court of law that elephants, great apes, and whales and dolphins are autonomous beings and deserve the right to bodily liberty," she said. "[This ruling] strengthens our argument that these nonhuman animals are not property."






You can't make this shiot up.

[GobbleDog 822]

My fish have no rights.

[hoytdwow 202]

For the first time in US history, a judge has decreed that a pair of chimpanzees held at a university research facility are covered by the same laws that govern the detention of humans,

 

I stopped reading here. Dumb. Chimpanzees are not humans.

[Vikings4ever 496]

[TimmySmith 2,782]

One might make the stretch that "All men..." might stretch to chimps, but certainly not elephants.

[hoytdwow 202]

One might make the stretch that "All men..." might stretch to chimps, but certainly not elephants.

how? chimps are a different species

[TimmySmith 2,782]

how? chimps are a different species

Not saying it's not loony, but 70-96% of DNA can be an argument.

[drobeski 3,061]

progress

[The Moz 69]

I thought this happened in the 60s

[FeelingMN 273]

Hopefully this doesn't infringe upon the rights corporations have as people.

[parrot 789]

Judge reverses ‘human rights’ status for chimpanzees

 

 

http://nypost.com/2015/04/21/judge-reverses-human-rights-status-for-chimpanzees/

[phillybear 365]

I reserve the right to refuse to make a banana pudding and feces cake for the upcoming nuptials of Mr Bobo and Mr Maloonigans. Stupid slippery slope. :mad:

[drobeski 3,061]

part of the new immigration policy ?

[HenryHill9323 65]

The "New" Dreamers?

[kutulu 1,552]

Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!

[NorthernVike 2,080]

Take your stinking paws off me, you damned dirty ape!

What Barack says to Michelle in the privacy of their own bedroom should stay private.

[Chronic Husker 85]

Pretty sure I saw one of these chimps at an Indian casino outside Tucson trying to get into the buffet with food stamps.

[peenie 1,696]

northern, you're a punk ass loser who is also not funny.

maybe you forgot that this isn't stormfront, your racist humor is not appreciated.

 

back to the topic...i think all animals deserve freedom.

chimps are quite smart:

 

 

i think it's wrong to cage any animal.

i think zoos are bad and i think animal experimentation is bad and i even will go so far to say that pet owning is selfish and wrong.