Friday, July 22, 2011

Conservation Force v. Salazar (9th Cir. - July 22, 2011)

Two hunters wanted to bring in leopard skins and skulls from their recent hunting trips in Africa, but didn't have the required permits, so the Fish and Wildlife Service seized 'em at the airport in San Francisco.  The two hunters filed administrative appeals, and then, when those were decided against them, sued in federal court.  The Ninth Circuit holds that having elected the administrative route, they were barred from suing.

Makes sense.  You'll notice, by the way, that one of the parties is "Conservation Force".  Which you might think was on the side of not killing leopards, but in fact is on the other.  Proving that you can name a group anything you want.

Plus, while we're on the caption, notice how the two individuals are labelled.  Not the usual "Conservation Force, a non-profit corporation; Miguel Blasquez and Colin Crook, individuals," but rather "Conservation Force,  a non-profit corporation; Miguel Blasquez and Colin Crook, hunters."  Which seems a somewhat strange attempt to imply that hunters aren't really people.  Something that you might be inclined to see from the other side of the debate, not from the plaintiffs themselves.

Anyway, the hunters don't get their trophies.  Sorry about that.  Though I'm sure the leopards are sorrier.  At least about the underlying events.