Fact of the matter is that much of the lawmaking that happens in the United States today is not done by Congress but by agencies.
Most of us are familiar with legislation (bills that sometimes become laws), and with court cases. But we don’t pay as much attention to regulations from federal agencies. As animal advocates, we should.
We welcome Prof. Delcianna Winders, visiting associate professor of law and Director of the Animal Law and Policy Institute at Vermont Law School to talk about the federal agency regulatory system. You can’t understand how animals are treated by industry and in the wild, and how to improve their lives, without understanding this system. Her interview can be accessed here.
Delci is one of the most experienced and well-respected animal law attorneys. She directed the world’s first law school clinic dedicated to farmed animal advocacy at Lewis & Clark Law School. She the first Academic Fellow of the Harvard Animal Law & Policy Program, and a visiting scholar at the Pace University School of Law. Delci previously served as Vice President and Deputy General Counsel at the PETA Foundation. Her primary interests are in animal law and administrative law. Read her full bio.
We spend a half-hour with Delci, who explains why administrative agencies are sometimes called the “fourth branch of government.” In particular, the USDA and Department of Interior promulgate rules that have a major impact on animals’ lives. She talks about cases she’s been involved with regarding farmed animals, and explain a rule now pending that advocates have been fighting for over 20 years. She’ll discuss how you can get involved.