Animal Law

Talk to the Animals: If AI can translate whistles, barks and meows, could it be used in court?

Fast-moving developments in artificial intelligence could one day crack the codes to translating animals’ whistles, chirps, clicks and barks—allowing humans and animals to communicate with each other at new levels and spawning a host of legal and ethical questions.

Sep 8, 2025 9:22 AM CDT

Not Chickening Out: The world’s oldest profession is fighting

"Tweedledum and Tweedledee agreed to have a battle; for Tweedledum said Tweedledee had spoiled his nice new rattle." —Lewis Carroll, Through the Looking Glass

Sep 3, 2025 2:03 PM CDT

Delcianna Winders has woven a web of animal law clinics and programs

“Becoming a lawyer was a good pathway to channel my animal advocacy, and the law plays a really important role in the status of animals,” says ABA member Delcianna Winders. “It’s an important lever that I could have an impact on.”

Sep 2, 2025 11:55 AM CDT

Can you bring a service dog to court?

“Service animals are allowed to accompany people with disabilities in all spaces run by state and local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations where the general public can go,” according to the Americans with Disabilities Act. But if the service animal isn’t specifically designated for the person appearing before a federal judge, is the animal still allowed?

Aug 28, 2025 2:16 PM CDT

Lawyer at a Party: How to handle unwanted legal inquiries

“My lease says no pets allowed, but that’s only for like really big dogs—right?” You take a deep breath, look at your inquisitor and wonder anew why you left the comfort of your home for this cocktail party. At home, no one asks you legal questions.

May 29, 2025 9:51 AM CDT

No Horsing Around: What’s considered a ‘vehicle’ when it comes to drunk driving laws?

A horse is a horse, of course. But can a horse be considered a “vehicle” if you’re charged with riding it while drunk? Well, it depends. Police can charge a person with impaired driving while operating just about anything—from horse drawn carriages to riding lawn mowers.

Apr 21, 2025 8:55 AM CDT

Guard Dogs: Protect domestic violence survivors by protecting their pets, ABA House urges

To many people, pets are members of the family—and in abusive families, violence and threats of violence against pets are often used to victimize their human owners.

Apr 1, 2025 12:25 AM CDT

PETA asserts First Amendment right to receive communications from NIH monkeys

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals is asserting a First Amendment right to receive communications from macaque monkeys held in a government research lab.

Mar 10, 2025 8:57 AM CDT

Protect domestic violence survivors by protecting their pets, ABA House says

At the ABA Midyear Meeting in Phoenix on Monday, the ABA House of Delegates considered how to best meet the needs of pet owners in family law and civil protection order proceedings.

Feb 3, 2025 6:42 PM CST

Elephants don’t have standing to sue to leave the zoo, top Colorado court rules

Colorado’s highest court on Tuesday ruled that five elderly elephants don’t have legal standing to sue to leave a local zoo because they’re not human.

Jan 22, 2025 8:46 AM CST

Our favorite Instagram posts from 2024

It's been another riveting year in the legal industry and for our coverage at the ABA Journal. And like clockwork, 2025 will be here before we know it.

Dec 23, 2024 10:34 AM CST

Tune in to our favorite podcasts of 2024

The ABA Journal staff have conversations with fascinating lawyers every day. But in our podcasts, you get to listen in on some of those discussions. Here are our favorite episodes from 2024.

Dec 23, 2024 9:57 AM CST

Dive into our favorite long reads of 2024

The end of the year will hopefully bring you some downtime for leisure reading. We’ve curated a list of some of our favorite web and print long reads from 2024.

Dec 23, 2024 9:35 AM CST

Poll: Which ABA Journal magazine cover from 2024 was your favorite?

We covered a wide array of diverse, in-depth and hard-hitting legal topics at the ABA Journal this year.

Dec 20, 2024 10:35 AM CST

Check out our favorite 2024 photo galleries

From cartoon captions to court rulings that shaped the Endangered Species Act to book recommendations for lawyers, the ABA Journal presents our favorite photo galleries from this year. Which photo gallery was your favorite?

Dec 20, 2024 9:18 AM CST