March 11, 2026 Program The Trojan Hog in the Farm Bill
An analysis by Harvard Law School’s Brooks McCormick Jr. Animal Law & Policy Program found that the "Save Our Bacon Act" would “shift longstanding state authority to the federal government, raising questions about the balance of power between federal and state governments.” What’s more, the bill’s vague, undefined terms—such as “production” and “movement” of “livestock-derived products”—could nullify hundreds of state and local laws and regulations.
November 03, 2025 The Runaway Monkeys Upending the Animal-Rights Movement
The Animal Welfare Act almost entirely excludes rats and mice, the most common research animals. It outlines minimal standards for housing, food, and pain management—and is minimally enforced. “Facilities can get consistent warnings and violations, but it’s almost never followed up with any sort of action,” Mary Hollingsworth, a former senior trial attorney at the Department of Justice who now leads Harvard Law School’s Animal Law & Policy Clinic, said.
October 23, 2025 Program Advocates who rescue animals in grave danger should qualify for ‘necessity defense,’ argues Harvard Law expert
Professor Kristen Stilt says that California policy points to a view that ‘animals are sentient beings whose harm is something we want to avoid.’
October 08, 2025 Clinic Animal abusers are getting let off the hook. Trump and his Supreme Court are partly to blame.
Mary Hollingsworth, Faculty Director of Harvard Law School’s Animal Law and Policy Clinic and a former Justice Department trial attorney, told Vox what’s most needed to deter violations is stronger fines. For that to happen, the Animal Welfare Act needs to be amended to allow the Justice Department to take violators to federal court, where judges are “much more likely to impose a reasonable fine,” Professor Hollingsworth said.