Bound & gagged: Potential first amendment challenges to "ag-gag" laws

Duke Environmental Law and Policy Forum

Volumn 23, Issue 2, 2013, Pages 377-403

  Landfried, Jessalee ^a  

^a DUKE UNIVERSITY   (United States)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

AGROINDUSTRY; ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY; LEGISLATION;

EID: 84879002175     PISSN: 10643958     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (144)

1. Lester Aldrich, Texas Sheriff Investigates Animal-Cruelty Video Rattling Cattle Market, Wall St. J. (Apr. 20, 2011), http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704658704576 275091620222926.html?mod=googlenews_wsj.
2. Kevin Lewis, Charges Filed in E6 Cattle Case, Plainview Herald (May 26, 2011, 4:30 PM), http://www.myplainview.com/news/article_ 5ee448d4-87e0-11e0-be0a-001cc4c03286.html.
3. John Curran, 2 Vt. Slaughterhouse Workers Charged with Cruelty, Bos. Globe (June 4, 2010), http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2010/06/04/2_vt_slaughterhouse_workers_ charged_with_cruelty.
4. Rick Weiss, Video Reveals Violations of Laws, Abuse of Cows at Slaughterhouses, Wash. Post, Jan. 30, 2008, at A4, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/ content/article/2008/01/29/AR2008012903054.html.
5. Rick Weiss, Video Reveals Violations of Laws, Abuse of Cows at Slaughterhouses, Wash. Post, Jan. 30, 2008, at A4, available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/ content/article/2008/01/29/AR2008012903054.html.
6. Mark Bittman, Op-Ed., Who Protects the Animals?, N.Y. Times, Apr. 27, 2011, at A27, available at http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/04/26/who-protects-the-animals.
7. David Brown, USDA Orders Largest Meat Recall in U.S. History, Wash. Post, Feb. 18, 2008, at A1.
8. Glynn T. Tonsor & Nicole J. Olynk, Kan. State Univ., U.S. Meat Demand: The Influence of Animal Welfare Media Coverage (2010), available at http://www.agmanager.info/livestock/marketing/animalwelfare/MF2951.pdf (finding that media reports significantly reduce demand for pork and poultry products).
9. Food writer Mark Bittman coined the term "ag gag" in a New York Times editorial.
10. Although the undercover investigations targeted by the bills all took place at livestock facilities, many of the bills are specifically drafted so as to cover both animal and crop production facilities. For example, Iowa's new law defines "agricultural production facility" to include "an animal facility... and a crop production facility. " H.R. 589, 84th Gen. Assemb. (Iowa 2012).
11. See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-1827 (2006).
12. See Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-1827 (2006).
13. Iowa Code § 717A.3A (2012).
14. Iowa Code § 717A.3A (2012).
15. See, e.g., Jason Clayworth, Animal Rights Spokeswoman: 'Ag Gag' Won't Stop Us!, Des Moines Reg., (Mar. 1, 2012), http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/ 2012/03/01/animals-rights-spokeswoman-ag-gag-wont-stop-us ("[Activists] contend the bill is a constitutional violation of free speech").
16. Wash. State Grange v. Wash. State Republican Party, 552 U.S. 442, 449 n.6 (2008) (quoting New York v. Ferber, 458 U.S. 747, 769-71 (1982) (internal quotation marks omitted).
17. 130 S. Ct. 1577 (2010).
18. 130 S. Ct. 1577 (2010).
19. See, e.g., Mickey H. Osterreicher, Photography & the Law: New Laws Have Significant Impact, JPG Mag (Mar. 11, 2012), http://jpgmag.com/news/2012/03/new-laws-have-significantimpact-on-photographyrecording.html (noting that Stevens spurred some legislatures' changes to ag-gag proposals).
20. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
21. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
22. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
23. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
24. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
25. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
26. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
27. Stevens, 130 S. Ct. at 1583. The defendant in Stevens was not a producer of crush films, but sold videos of dogfights.
28. Erik Ugland, Demarcating the Right To Gather News: A Sequential Interpretation of the First Amendment, 3 Duke J. Const. L. & Pub. Pol'y 113, 121 (2008).
29. 987 P.2d 67 (Cal.1999).
30. 987 P.2d 67 (Cal.1999).
31. 987 P.2d 67 (Cal.1999).
32. See, e.g., Cohen v. Cowles Media Co., 501 U.S. 663, 669 (1991).
33. See, e.g., Shiffman v. Empire Blue Cross & Blue Shield, 256 A.2d 131, 131 (N.Y. App. Div. 1998) (holding that an undercover reporter posing as a potential patient in a private medical office had no First Amendment affirmative defense because free speech did not confer a privilege for trespass).
34. See, e.g., Galella v. Onassis, 487 F.2d 986, 995 (2d Cir. 1973) (holding that the First Amendment did not shield a paparazzo photographer from criminal liability for his constant surveillance of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, despite her status as a public figure).
35. See, e.g., Oak Creek v. King, 436 N.W.2d 285, 286 (Wis. 1989) (holding that the First Amendment does not provide news gatherers with special rights of access as surrogates for the general public).
36. See, e.g., Special Force Ministries v. WCCO Television, 584 N.W.2d 789, 793-94 (Minn. Ct. App. 1998) (holding that an undercover reporter who secretly filmed abuses at a facility for mentally retarded persons was not protected by the First Amendment against tort claims for fraud or trespass).
37. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
38. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
39. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
40. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
41. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
42. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
43. 194 F.3d 505 (4th Cir. 1999).
44. Erik Ugland, Demarcating the Right To Gather News: A Sequential Interpretation of the First Amendment, 3 Duke J. Const. L. & Pub. Pol'y 113, 121 (2008).
45. Bartnicki v. Vopper, 532 U.S. 514, 517-18, 528 (2001).
46. Bartnicki v. Vopper, 532 U.S. 514, 517-18, 528 (2001).
47. Bartnicki v. Vopper, 532 U.S. 514, 517-18, 528 (2001).
48. Bartnicki v. Vopper, 532 U.S. 514, 517-18, 528 (2001).
49. Bartnicki v. Vopper, 532 U.S. 514, 517-18, 528 (2001).
50. See Food Lion, Inc. v. Capital Cities/ABC, Inc., 194 F.3d 505, 510 (4th Cir. 1999).
51. See Food Lion, 194 F.3d at 510.
52. Food Lion, 194 F.3d at 522.
53. See Mary-Rose Papandrea, Citizen Journalism and the Reporter's Privilege, 91 Minn. L. Rev. 515, 518 (2007).
54. See Mary-Rose Papandrea, Citizen Journalism and the Reporter's Privilege, 91 Minn. L. Rev. 515, 518 (2007).
55. The Society of Professional Journalists' Code of Ethics states that journalists should avoid undercover investigations unless the information gathered is 1) vital to the public and 2) not available through other means. SPJ Code of Ethics, Soc'y Prof. Journalists, http://www.spj.org/pdf/ethicscode.pdf (last visited Feb. 4, 2013).
56. Courts are tentatively beginning to address this thorny issue. In a 2006 case, the California Court of Appeal held that website editors were entitled to the protections of California's reporter's privilege shield law. O'Grady v. Superior Court, 44 Cal. Rptr. 3d 72, 77 (Cal. Ct. App. 2006).
57. See, e.g., Consol. Edison Co. of N.Y. v. Pub. Serv. Comm'n of N.Y., 447 U.S. 530, 536 (1980) ("[W]hen regulation is based on the content of speech, governmental action must be scrutinized more carefully to ensure that communication has not been prohibited 'merely because public officials disapprove the speaker's views.'"
58. See Galena v. Leone, 638 F.3d 186, 199 (3d Cir. 2011).
59. R.A.V. v. City of St. Paul, Minn., 505 U.S. 377, 382 (1992).
60. Ysursa v. Pocatello Educ. Ass'n, 555 U.S. 353, 358 (2009).
61. Ashcroft v. ACLU, 542 U.S. 656, 665 (2004).
62. See Consol. Edison, 447 U.S. at 536 (providing the example that regulating traffic noise is content-neutral because "[n]o matter what its message, a roving sound truck that blares at 2 a. m. disturbs neighborhood tranquility").
63. See Consol. Edison, 447 U.S. at 536 (providing the example that regulating traffic noise is content-neutral because "[n]o matter what its message, a roving sound truck that blares at 2 a. m. disturbs neighborhood tranquility").
64. See Consol. Edison, 447 U.S. at 536 (providing the example that regulating traffic noise is content-neutral because "[n]o matter what its message, a roving sound truck that blares at 2 a. m. disturbs neighborhood tranquility").
65. DVD Copy Control Ass'n v. Bunner, 75 P.3d 1, 17 (Cal. 2003) ("[A] prior restraint is a content-based restriction on speech prior to its occurrence. "
66. See Near v. Minnesota, 283 U.S. 697, 733 (1931) (Butler, J., dissenting) ("[E]very man shall have a right to speak, write, and print his opinions upon any subject whatsoever, without any prior restraint.... ").
67. Neb. Press Ass'n v. Stuart, 427 U.S. 539, 559 (1976).
68. S.F. Arts & Athletics, Inc. v. U.S. Olympic Comm., 483 U.S. 522, 537 (1987).
69. Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 798-99 (1989).
70. Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 798-99 (1989).
71. Ward v. Rock Against Racism, 491 U.S. 781, 798-99 (1989).
72. Clark v. Cmty. for Creative Non-Violence, 468 U.S. 288, 298 (1984).
73. Clark v. Cmty. for Creative Non-Violence, 468 U.S. 288, 298 (1984).
74. See, e.g., Jason Clayworth, Animal Rights Spokeswoman: 'Ag Gag' Won't Stop Us!, Des Moines Reg., (Mar. 1, 2012), http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/ 2012/03/01/animals-rights-spokeswoman-ag-gag-wont-stop-us ("[Activists] contend the bill is a constitutional violation of free speech").
75. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-1827 (2006).
76. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-1827 (2006).
77. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-1827 (2006).
78. Kan. Stat. Ann. § 47-1827 (2006).
79. N.D. Cent. Code § 12.1-21.1-02 (2011).
80. Mont. Code Ann. § 81-30-103 (2011).
81. Mont. Code Ann. § 81-30-103 (2011).
82. Based on a Westlaw search as of March 23, 2013.
83. Based on extensive online searches, including online searches of animal rights groups' archives.
84. See, e.g., Dan Flynn, Five States Now Have 'Ag-Gag' Laws on the Books, Food Safety News (Mar. 6, 2012), http://www.foodsafetynews.com/2012/03/five-states-now-have-aggag-laws-on-the-books.
85. Cynthia Hodges, Detailed Discussion of State Animal 'Terrorism'/Animal Enterprise Interference Laws, Animal Legal & Hist. Ctr. (2011), http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ ddusstateecoterrorism.htm.
86. Cynthia Hodges, Detailed Discussion of State Animal 'Terrorism'/Animal Enterprise Interference Laws, Animal Legal & Hist. Ctr. (2011), http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ ddusstateecoterrorism.htm.
87. Cynthia Hodges, Detailed Discussion of State Animal 'Terrorism'/Animal Enterprise Interference Laws, Animal Legal & Hist. Ctr. (2011), http://www.animallaw.info/articles/ ddusstateecoterrorism.htm.
88. Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, 18 U.S.C. § 43(a) (2006).
89. Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, 18 U.S.C. § 43(a) (2006).
90. Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, 18 U.S.C. § 43(a) (2006).
91. Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act, 18 U.S.C. § 43(a) (2006).
92. Blum v. Holder, No. 11-12229-JLT, 2013 WL 1097818, at *9 (D. Mass. Mar. 18, 2013).
93. Blum v. Holder, No. 11-12229-JLT, 2013 WL 1097818, at *9 (D. Mass. Mar. 18, 2013).
94. Blum v. Holder, No. 11-12229-JLT, 2013 WL 1097818, at *9 (D. Mass. Mar. 18, 2013).
95. See Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(a) (West 2012); Penn. H.R. 683.
96. H.R. 589, 84th Gen. Assemb. (Iowa 2011).
97. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(a).
98. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(a).
99. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(a).
100. Iowa H.R. 589 (2011).
101. Iowa H.R. 589 (2011).
102. Iowa Code § 717A.3A (2012).
103. Iowa Code § 717A.3A (2012).
104. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
105. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
106. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
107. H.R. 589, 84th Gen. Assemb. (Iowa 2012).
108. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
109. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
110. H.R. 187, 2012 Gen. Sess. (Utah 2012).
111. H.R. 187 3d Substitute, 2012 Gen. Sess. (Utah 2012).
112. See Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(b) (2012).
113. See Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(b) (2012).
114. H.R. 5143, 97th Gen. Assemb. (Ill. 2012).
115. S.B. 373, 118th Gen. Assemb., 1st Reg. Sess. (Ind. 2013).
116. H.R. 683, 2013-2014 Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Penn. 2013).
117. H.R. 683, 2013-2014 Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (Penn. 2013).
118. S. 552, 51st Leg., 1st Sess. (N.M. 2013).
119. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
120. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
121. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
122. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
123. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
124. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
125. Utah Code Ann. § 76-6-112(2)(d) (West 2012).
126. See Anti-Whistleblower Bills Hide Factory-Farming Abuses from the Public, The Humane Soc'y of the U.S., http://www.humanesociety.org/issues/campaigns/factory_farming/ fact-sheets/ag_gag.html (last updated Apr. 16, 2013).
127. Ed Sayres, Ag-Gag Bills Threaten Our Children, Our Freedom and Our Animals, ASPCA Blog (Mar. 22, 2012, 10:14 AM), http://www.aspca.org/ Blog/eds-corner-aggag (referencing the ag-gag bills in Tennessee, Nebraska, and Missouri).
128. Interestingly, an internet search of local newspapers and animal rights activists' websites indicates that the pre-existing laws in Kansas, Montana, and North Dakota were not controversial at the time of their passage.
129. Sean P. Means, Heigl Lobbies Utah Senate Against 'Ag-Gag' Bill, Salt Lake Trib. (Mar. 1, 2012, 10:38 AM), http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/blogsmoviecricket/53625223-66/bill-utahgag-heigl.html.csp.
130. Jeff Mackey, Bob Barker Addresses 'Ag Gag' Bill, PETA Files (Mar. 19, 2012), http://www.peta.org/b/thepetafiles/archive/2012/03/19/bob-barker-addresses-ag-gag-bill.aspx.
131. See, e.g., Our View: Bill Just a Cover-Up of Bad Behavior, Winona Daily News (Apr. 21, 2011, 12:00 AM), http://www.winonadailynews.com/news/opinion/editorial/ article_f2084c4c-6bce-11e0-844b-001cc4c002e0.html.
132. Gary Anderson & Lee Smith, Exposing Animal Abuse Amounts to Petty Fraud, Fairmont Sentinel (Apr. 15, 2011), http://www.fairmontsentinel.com/page/content.detail/id/517182/Exposing-animal-abuseamounts-to-petty-fraud.html?nav=5005
133. Don't Punish Whistleblowers, New Ulm J. (Apr. 14, 2011), http://www.nujournal.com/page/content.detail/id/523674/Don-t-punish-whistle blowers.html.
134. Memo for S. 5172, 235th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (N.Y. 2011).
135. Memo for S. 5172, 235th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (N.Y. 2011).
136. Memo for S. 5172, 235th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (N.Y. 2011).
137. See S. 5172, 235th Gen. Assemb., Reg. Sess. (N.Y. 2011).
138. See, e.g., Laura Allen, NY Bill to Ban Undercover Investigations, Animal L. Coalition (Feb. 29, 2012), http://www.animallawcoalition.com/animals-and-politics/ article/1805.
139. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
140. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
141. See H.R. 589, 84th Gen. Assemb. (Iowa 2012).
142. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).
143. See, e.g., Upton Sinclair, The Jungle (1905).
144. See, e.g., Cody Carlson, The Ag Gag Laws: Hiding Factory Farm Abuses from Public Scrutiny, Atlantic (Mar. 20, 2012, 9:06 AM), http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/ 2012/03/the-ag-gag-laws-hiding-factory-farm-abuses-from-public-scrutiny/254674 (describing how the activist author applied to work at an egg farm in Iowa to produce video footage using a pinhole camera).