The Supreme Court of the United States heard oral arguments in National Pork Producers Council, et al. v. Karen Ross, in her Official Capacity as Secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture, et al. (Case No.: 21-468) on October 11, 2022. Appearing to rely on research and arguments in an amicus brief co-authored by now-Associate Leora Friedman and Public Justice Food Project Litigation Director David Muraskin, Justice Sotomayor stated that “scientists [] point out that there are some genuine scientific reasons” for being concerned about how pigs are raised, including gestational confinement increasing “the presence of diseases in piglets that . . . can carry through to time of slaughter.”
During her Public Interest Fellowship term, Ms. Friedman spent her non-profit placement with the Public Justice Food Project. Along with Mr. Muraskin, Ms. Friedman served as one of the counsel for the worker safety advocates as amici curiae supporting the Secretary of the California Department of Food & Agriculture. The brief addresses the connection between intensive confinement of swine and spread of zoonotic disease to and among slaughterhouse and other workers in California and their communities.
The Supreme Court is expected to issue its ruling in or before June 2023.
“Leora was an outstanding Fellow and her fantastic and important work during her non-profit placement at Public Justice speaks volumes not only of Leora but also of the types of meaningful, ground-breaking work we strive to find for our Fellows,” says Partner Andrea R. Gold. “We could not be more proud of Leora and are so grateful for our partnership with Public Justice in this case and our Fellowship program generally.”