Thursday, January 26, 2023

5:00 PM to 7:00 PM (Eastern Standard Time)

Zoom Video Meeting

United States

Register

12 people have already registered for this event.

  • Cassandra Dulepski
  • William Wenck
  • Jo Ann Roberts
  • Kathleen Ayers
  • Jamie Woodside
  • Daniel Cooper
  • Dayna Chucta
  • Carole Briggs
  • Colette Griffin
  • Thompson Page
  • Eui Young Kim
  • Wayne Hsiung
Animal Activism: Open Rescue and the Smithfield Farms Trial. What the recent Smithfield Farms trial in Utah can teach animal activists and attorneys about preparing for and successfully defending “open rescue” cases in court.

Speaker

Wayne Hsiung, Attorney; cofounder of the animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere; formerly an attorney with the law firms DLA Piper and Steptoe & Johnson, a Searle Fellow and visiting assistant professor at the Northwestern University School of Law, and a National Science Foundation-funded graduate student at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Program Description

In October of this year, in a case that garnered national attention, Wayne Hsiung, attorney, co-founder of the animal rights network Direct Action Everywhere and a defendant in a criminal prosecution on charges of both felony and misdemeanor theft, was tried in Washington County, Utah. The charges stemmed from the open rescue of two piglets in dire condition from a Smithfield Farms pork production facility. Hsiung and co-defendant Paul Pickelsimer faced years in prison and fines if convicted. After a jury trial, during which Hsiung represented himself, the jury acquitted both defendants of all charges. Hsiung will speak about open rescue and its place in the animal rights movement. He will also discuss details of the trial, including his insights on the trial strategy he pursued, how the defense managed to bring in evidence the judge had initially restricted, reflections on what worked and what he might have done differently, trial practice tips and thoughts about defending activists and whistleblowers.

CLE Credit

1.0 CT (General)

Agenda

  1. Upcoming Events
    1. 1/26/2023 Section Meeting and CLE at 5:00 p.m. via Zoom: Animal Activism: Open Rescue and the Smithfield Farms Trial with Wayne Hsiung
    2. Introduction to High Hopes Therapeutic Riding Center & Section Meeting - February
    3. Dept. of Ag and DEEP presentation - TBD
    4. Fisheries Law with Professor McDonald & Section Meeting - March
    5. National Park Producers v Ross presentation & Section Meeting - April or TBD
    6. Lobsters v. Right Whales presentation & Section Meeting - May or TBD
    7. Spring Happy Hour/Get Together - late May or early June
  2. CLC Proposal
    1. We are waiting to hear back about our CLC proposal idea: cross-section presentation on guardians ad litem and advocating for animals, kids, and more!
  3. Section Resources
    1. Animal Law Referral Directory
    2. FAQ sheet for breeding/foster/adoption contracts
    3. Section Newsletter
  4. Legislative Updates
    1. Updates from Dan on this legislative session



Contact

Member Service Center
Email: msc@ctbar.org
Phone: (844)469-2221