student animal legal defense fund
SALDF is a student chapter of the Animal Legal Defense Fund. SALDF is devoted to enhancing the welfare and legal status of all nonhuman animals. Our primary goals are to educate ourselves and others concerning the issues and laws that affect animals and to influence positive change. Please visit our blog at http://saldf.umlaw.net.
The UM Law chapter of the Student Animal Legal Defense Fund (SALDF) recently conducted a pro bono legal research project for Meyer Glitzenstein & Crystal, a Washington, D.C. public interest firm that is representing the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) in the case of ASPCA v. Ringling Brothers Barnum and Bailey Circus. For the project, UMSALDF executive board members, Jane Graham, Jonathan Tanoos, Angelica Fiorentino, Laura Tsai, Nick Lewis, and Megan Hamilton, wrote a detailed memo regarding the admissibility of evidence of cruelty to elephants performing and transported in the circus. UM Law Professor George Mundstock advised the group.
UM Law's SALDF hosted a seminar featuring Dr. Sean Gelb, chair of the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee and Miami Animal Law Attorney. Dr. Gelb discussed the Florida Bar Animal Law Committee and ways in which students can get involved, as well as current animal law issues in Miami-Dade County including developments in dog bite case law and the "Tinkerbell Rule," which addresses whether pets may accompany their owners to restaurants.
On September 19, UM Law's SALDF and student groups from Florida International University and St. Thomas University hosted an event where they collected donations for the Animal Rights Foundation of Florida.
SALDF executive Board members Jane Graham, Laura Tsai, and Angelica Fiorentino attended the National Animal Law Conference at Lewis and Clark Law School in Portland, Oregon . Topics covered at the event included animals in entertainment, the moral rights of animals, and sharkfinning. For more information of the conference, go to http://www.lclark.edu/org/saldf/conference.html. On October 28th, the SALDF members presented what they learned at the conference to the law school community.
Upcoming Events
SALDF Elections: March 26th, F408, 12:30-2. Anyone who is a UM Law student and animal lover is urged to run.
Positions include:
President
Vice President of Events
Vice President of Community Affairs
Treasurer
Publicity Chair
The incoming President may appoint a historian and webmaster.
"Annual Spring Symposium. Animals as Entertainment. That's Entertainment, Or Is It?", April 3rd, 12:30-5:30 in the Student Lounge. Come to our biggest event of the year. Alex Pacheco, the co-founder of PETA wll be our keynote speaker, followed by panels on zoos and ecotourism, issues in domestic and exotic animal ownership, and greyhound racing in Florida. UM Law Professor Marcy LaHart will be moderating. A full mediterranean lunch will be served at 12:30, and there will be a wine reception following the program. The cost is free! 3.5 CLE credits are pending.
For more information, contact Jane Graham at umsaldf@yahoo.com or Nick Lewis at lewinick@gmail.com.
Faculty Advisor
S.A.L.D.F.2008 - 2009 Officers
President: Jane Graham
Vice President of Events: Nick Lewis
Vice President of Community Affairs: Laura Tsai
Publicity Chair: Megan Hamilton
Publicity Chair: Brian Meanley
Treasurer: Angelica Fiorentino
Historian: Jonathan Tanoos
Email:umsaldf@yahoo.com
