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National Meat Association v. Harris

Docket No.10-224
Op. Below9th Circuit
ArgumentNov 9, 2011

Holding

The Federal Meat Inspection Act expressly preempts a California law regulating the treatment of non-ambulatory pigs at federal"ly inspected slaughterhouses.

Plain English Holding

A California law regulating the treatment of livestock that cannot walk (and which requires, for example, that such animals be euthanized immediately and not used for food) is invalid because it is trumped, or "preempted," by a federal law regulating the treatment of livestock at slaughterhouses.

Judgment

Reversed, 9-0, in an opinion by Elena Kagan on Jan 23, 2012.

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