Court Hears Arguments In Challenge To State Humane Slaughter Act

In Everett, Washington last Friday, a state court judge heard arguments in a challenge by an animal rescue group to Washington state's Humane Slaughter Act. The group argues that the exemption for ritual slaughtering of animals (RCW 16.50.150) violates the Establishment Clause in the federal and Washington state constitutions, the federal equal protection clause and the state's privileges and immunities clause. Pasado’s Safe Haven, plaintiff in the case, has posted extensive background on the lawsuit. According to yesterday's Everett Herald, plaintiff's attorney argued that since slaughter without stunning an animal is legal only in ritual slaughter, the law unconstitutionally prescribes different punishments depending on one's religious belief. KING5 News says that plaintiff additionally argues that the law would allow someone to invent a religion as a defense to animal cruelty. The state, however, says that the law applies only to licensed slaughter houses and is an attempt to protect free exercise of religion. A decision in the case is expected later this year.