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Chimpanzee "Personhood" Is Back In Court

Posted by samzenpus on from the I-wanna-be-like-you-hoo-hoo dept.

sciencehabit writes Chimpanzees are back in court. Judges in New York State heard the first in a series of appeals attempting to grant "legal personhood" to the animals. The case is part of a larger effort by an animal rights group known as the Nonhuman Rights Project (NhRP) to free a variety of creatures—from research chimps to aquarium dolphins—from captivity. If the case is successful, it could grant personhood to chimps throughout the state.

7 of 385 comments (clear)

  1. Does that mean they'll get to vote? by BitterOak · · Score: 5, Interesting

    If chimps are people, will they be able to vote? Hold political office? Cue the jokes.

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    1. Re:Does that mean they'll get to vote? by TWX · · Score: 5, Insightful

      They'd make better people than corporations do...

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    2. Re:Does that mean they'll get to vote? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

      Which one is more likely to get them a banana republic?

    3. Re:Does that mean they'll get to vote? by mwvdlee · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I'm suggesting you should be able to sue the humans responsible for the crimes of a corporation and not sue either chimps or corporations as all.

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  2. Re:Can you marry one? by mjm1231 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    There are lots of humans you can't legally marry. They pretty much all have one thing in common: they can't legally give consent.

    Also, you really shouldn't look at your sister that way.

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  3. On Grounds of Standing Alone.... by maz2331 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    ...this case should have been tossed. One can't file on behalf of another (unless they are a legal guardian or hold a power of attorney), and the plaintiffs also can't show any personal harm to themselves.

    If they feel strongly enough about the issue, the remedy is political. Convince enough people that 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of state legislatures will agree, and pass a Constitutional amendment.

    1. Re:On Grounds of Standing Alone.... by Krishnoid · · Score: 5, Funny

      One can't file on behalf of another (unless they are a legal guardian or hold a power of attorney), and the plaintiffs also can't show any personal harm to themselves.

      They had standing due to special circumstances; in this situation they were allowed to file the case pro-bono(bo).