There are organizations that provide a "voice" for abused animals, because they . . . well, don't speak . . . any human language, at least. But New Jersey may take it a step further and provide them with LAWYERS.
A bill has been proposed in New Jersey that would allow judges in the state to appoint lawyers for animal victims in cruelty cases.
The bill passed unanimously in the Senate earlier this year and is awaiting an Assembly vote. If it's passed, lawyers could volunteer to be liaisons between the court and the abused animal as the case moves through the legal system.
The lawyer wouldn't strategize with their animal clients at a counsel's table, like you'd see on "Law & Order" . . . but it WOULD be formal. The lawyers would inform the court of the health, status, and living conditions of the animal, making sure nothing is overlooked.
Connecticut and Maine already have similar laws on the books.
(To be clear, this is only to care for animal abuse victims. A cat named Skittles won't be able to hire a lawyer to sue a dog named Bowser for stalking and terrorizing. And Bowser can't countersue for scratching.)
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