Emotional support dog didn’t have priority over tenant with allergies, state supreme court says

The Iowa Supreme Court ruled Tuesday that a no-pets building in Iowa City, Iowa, should not have allowed a new tenant to have an emotional support dog after an objection by another tenant with severe allergies.

Jul 2, 2020 11:03 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: PACER gets a redesign; SCOTUS turns down border wall case

PACER is redesigned to be easier to use PACER, the federal judiciary’s website for electronic court filings, has gotten a redesign. The site has new navigational tools, simplified instructions for account registration, and easy-to-use directions for searches. (Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts June 26 press release) Supreme Court turns…

Jun 29, 2020 3:51 PM CDT

A love of dolphins sparked lawyer’s 30-year crusade to improve well-being of animals

James F. Gesualdi was only a year into his practice of law in 1989 when a trip to a dolphin sanctuary changed the course of his career—and his entire life. “The practice of animal law, like life itself, is all about raising consciousness,” Gesualdi says.

Jun 1, 2020 12:35 AM CDT

Animal law attorney discusses Netflix’s ‘Tiger King,’ legal issues related to wildlife trafficking

While quarantined with a bout of COVID-19 in her uptown New Orleans home, endangered species protection lawyer Carney Anne Nasser has had plenty to say about the controversy swirling around the Netflix docuseries Tiger King. Nasser talked recently with ABA Journal Legal Affairs Writer Matt Reynolds.

May 14, 2020 8:00 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: Michael Cohen will be released from prison; environmental lawyer gets celebs’ support

Ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen will be released from prison because of COVID-19 concerns President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, will be released from prison to home confinement. He is among several prisoners being released from a minimum security prison camp in New York because of concerns about COVID-19. He…

Apr 17, 2020 3:08 PM CDT

How to develop your horse sense with equine law

In this new episode of the Modern Law Library podcast, Julie Fershtman introduces Ashley Alfirevic of ABA Publishing to the world of horse sense and the liabilities of pony rides.

Apr 8, 2020 8:30 AM CDT

ABA House supports animal encounter training for law enforcement

Apr 1, 2020 12:15 AM CDT

Afternoon Briefs: EPA relaxes pollution rules during COVID-19 crisis; Title IX doesn’t protect trans athletes, DOJ says

EPA relaxes pollution enforcement during coronavirus pandemic The Environmental Protection Agency announced Thursday that it would relax enforcement of environmental rules in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The EPA said companies should monitor themselves as the agency focuses on “situations that may create an acute risk or imminent threat to…

Mar 27, 2020 4:50 PM CDT

7 ways lawyers can join the fight to curb climate change

There are two paths lawyers can take in response to the crisis. We can mutter, “We’re screwed,” and go back to practicing law and living high-carbon lifestyles. Or we can devote time and resources to help ensure a livable future, says lawyer Matthew Metz.

Feb 27, 2020 10:50 AM CST

Resolution on animal training for police passes; some say such measures aren’t ABA’s ‘core mission’

The importance of providing police officers with comprehensive animal encounter training was addressed in a measure approved by the ABA House of Delegates at the 2020 ABA Midyear Meeting in Austin, Texas, on Monday.

Feb 17, 2020 2:44 PM CST

The 2020 ABA Midyear Meeting kicks off in Texas

The 2020 ABA Midyear Meeting opens in the Lone Star State this week, providing ABA members the opportunity to attend hundreds of legal programs and events; hear from recognized law experts; and meet with colleagues in their sections, divisions, committees and councils.

Feb 12, 2020 1:04 PM CST

9 major climate change cases that could shape the fight to save the planet

Climate change, which has surfaced as a major issue in the 2020 presidential election, is a growing practice area in environmental litigation. Everyone involved (even the U.S. government, which has been named in several cases), concurs that the climate crisis poses a dire and increasing threat to a safe environment.…

Jan 23, 2020 2:49 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Youths’ climate-change suit tossed; Ken Starr and Alan Dershowitz join Trump legal team

9th Circuit tosses youths’ climate-change suit on standing grounds The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals at San Francisco dismissed Friday a climate-change lawsuit filed on behalf of 21 youths who claim a constitutional right to a climate capable of sustaining human life. The court said in the 2-1 decision…

Jan 17, 2020 3:48 PM CST

Afternoon Briefs: Government agency says withholding Ukrainian aid broke law; dog banned from trial

GAO report concludes White House violated law by withholding Ukraine aid The nonpartisan Government Accountability Office has concluded the White House broke the law when it withheld funds for security assistance allocated to Ukraine by Congress. The GAO found a violation of the Impoundment Control Act. A spokesperson for the…

Jan 16, 2020 4:32 PM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2019 was your favorite?

We’ve covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics this past year at the ABA Journal. Most recently, we ran a feature story about lawyers who are unleashing a flurry of lawsuits to step up the fight against climate change, and then all the way back to…

Dec 23, 2019 10:20 AM CST